From the modern to the archaeological: starch grains from millets and their wild relatives in China

Starch grains from 31 modern samples of millets derived from the seeds of 7 species within the genus Setaria and 2 species within the genus Panicum were analyzed to determine diagnostic morphological characteristics. Ancient starch grains recovered from a sample of broomcorn millet (Panicum miliaceum) excavated from the Cishan site (10.0–7.6 cal yr BP) in the North China Plain were then subjected to the same analyses to determine the differences in morphologies, if any, between modern and ancient samples. The data indicate that morphological features, and particularly surface and fissure features, will allow for solid identifications of ancient millet starches, while size classes will be helpful, but will not be dependable taxonomic indicators.

► Starch grains from 31 modern samples of millet derived from 9 species were analyzed.
► A dichotomous key is set up to partition the starch assemblage into taxonomic groups.
► Ancient starch grains from broomcorn millet were compared with the modern data.
► Morphological features will allow for solid identification of ancient starch grains.
► Size classes will be helpful but not be dependable taxonomic indicators.