Differentiating banana phytoliths: wild and edible Musa acuminata and Musa balbisiana

Keywords

Archaeobotany, Bananas, Phytolith morphotypology, Phytolith, morphometry

Abstract

Recent reports indicate that phytoliths may provide direct archaeological evidence of banana cultivation. However, archaeologists may, in many places, recover phytoliths generated by banana plants with quite different historical backgrounds. Hence the need for a differentiation among phytoliths produced by specific banana groups. The present paper discusses the morphometric distinction between phytoliths produced by the constitutive diploid species Musa acuminata and Musa balbisiana. Our study suggests that domestication of the banana, which was initiated at the diploid M. acuminata level, does not appear to have influenced phytolith morphometry.

Original Publication Citation

Ball T., L. Vrydaghs , I. Van den houwe, J. Manwaring, and E. De Langhe.2006. Differentiating Banana Phytoliths:Wild and Edible: Musa acuminata and Musa balbisiana. Journal of Archaeological Science 33:1228-1236.

Document Type

Peer-Reviewed Article

Publication Date

2006-9

Permanent URL

http://hdl.lib.byu.edu/1877/6353

Publisher

Journal of Archaeological Science

Language

English

College

Religious Education

Department

Ancient Scripture

University Standing at Time of Publication

Full Professor

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