Identification of ancient starch grains from the tribe Triticeae in the North China Plain

• Morphological starch data are presented from 38 species in the family Poaceae.
• A dichotomous key to identify wheat-related grasses in East Asia is presented.
• Plants from the genus Hordeum were exploited 10,000 years ago in North China.

Both macrofossil and microfossil plant remains from the grass family (Poaceae) have been recovered from Neolithic and historic sites in China. Basing our work on the plant taxa that were previously recovered, we analyzed the economically significant genera for modern starch grain analysis with a focus on the important tribe Triticeae. Modern starch grains from the tribe Triticeae were compared with those from other grasses, and criteria for identification were determined. In total, 38 species within 28 genera, 13 tribes and 4 subfamilies were selected for analysis. Results demonstrate that starch grains from members of the tribe Triticeae are discernible from those of other tribes by their distinctive lenticular morphologies and surficial pressure craters. A dichotomous key covering 10 species within 7 genera of the Triticeae was created, thus allowing identification of members of the tribe to the level of genus. Application of the dichotomous key to the ancient starch assemblage recovered from lithic tools excavated from the early Neolithic site of Donghulin demonstrates that plants from the genera Hordeum and Agropyron were exploited alongside millets at this site.