Point count estimation of articulated husk phytoliths of foxtail millet and its prospective use in agricultural archaeology

Many researchers have focused on the precise identification of phytoliths extracted from archaeological samples, and on the extraction methods of phytolith from all kinds of samples as well. Additionally, it is important to perfect the scientific method of phytolith quantification. Phytoliths, especially from the husk, are easily broken after being long-buried or during extraction treatment. These can result in uncertainties about quantification of grain numbers and varies under different conditions. Here we introduce a method of point count estimation of articulated millet husk phytoliths, and evaluate its accuracy. As a result, we successfully used the point count method into estimating the area of husk phytolith in unit weight of modern millet samples, which will broaden the available data in archaeobiological research. We suggest precise estimations can therefore be done with this method.