[Objective] The aim was to research and identify starch grain microfossil found in archaeological sites in China, and to find appropriate procedures for the starch grain analysis experiment.[Method] Wheat starch grain size distribution was analyzed, and some simulated experiments were carried out, like mortar grinding, ultrasonic treatment, hydrochloric acid and hydrogen peroxide immersion, drying treatment, and so on. [Result] The mean size of wheat starch grains had increased in the growth process. Mortar grinding would make wheat starch grains larger than untreated sample. Long time of ultrasonic treatment can also make the starch grain size larger. 10% HCl and 6% H2O2 would have little effects on morphological feature of wheat starch grains. Low temperature heating did not cause starch grains to be gelatinized. [Conclusion] These experiment results can improve the accuracy of starch grain microfossil identification in the archaeological site. Starch grain analysis may be a utility and effective analytical tool in studying the origin of agriculture and the dispersal of crops in China.
利用植硅体分析与炭化植物种子形态分析,对汉阳陵外藏坑DK15出土的距今2000多年前的农作物遗存进行了分析鉴定.分析结果表明,此外藏坑粮仓中的农作物包含了粟(Setaria italica)、黍(Panicum miliaceum)、稻(Oryza saliva)以及藜属(初步鉴定为杖藜Chenopodium giganteum)的大量种子.这些农作物反映了当时西汉早中期陕西关中地区主要的农作物(谷物与蔬菜).以前从考古遗址中获得的藜属种子都是零星的,归为伴人杂草.此次汉阳陵出土的大量藜属种子,是考古中的首次发现,也第一次用实物资料证明了藜属作为经济作物的悠久历史.由于西汉从汉武帝时才开始在关中大力推广小麦种植,所以外藏坑中缺少小麦遗存有可能至少反映了汉景帝离世(141 cal a BC)前,小麦在关中地区民众日常生活与农业经济中的从属地位.
