Micro-CT-assisted determination of the shattering and non-shattering phenotypes of charred rice spikelet bases from archaeological sites: a new methodological approach |
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| Authors: | Yong Ge Can Wang Xiujia Huan Su-chiu Kuo Hsiao-chun Hung Zhenhua Deng |
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| Affiliation: | 1. Department of Archaeology and Anthropology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China;2. School of History and Culture, Shandong University, Jinan, China;3. Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Soil Conservation and Environmental Protection, School of Resources and Environment, Linyi University, Linyi, China;4. Institute of History and Philology, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan;5. Department of Archaeology and Natural History, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, Australia;6. Center for the Study of Chinese Archaeology, Peking University, Beijing, China |
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| Abstract: | The selection of a non-shattering phenotype is a pivotal change in the process of rice domestication. However, current research is heavily restricted by the preservation conditions of macro-plant remains in early and middle Neolithic sites, as very limited well-preserved rice spikelet bases could be retrieved. We present a non-destructive method based on micro-computed tomographic (CT) scanning, which could provide detailed visualization of the internal structures of charred spikelet bases and efficiently discriminate the shattering and non-shattering phenotypes of rice spikelet bases according to the abundance of fusiform echinate phytoliths. It could be widely applied in different contexts, especially those poorly preserved specimens and tempers in pottery sherds, greatly improving our knowledge of rice domestication. |
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| Keywords: | charred spikelet base micro-computed tomography (CT) phytolith rice shattering |
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