Ref ID:	36813
Ref Type:	Journal Article
Authors:	Barron, Aleese Datan, Ipoi Bellwood, Peter Wood, Rachel Fuller, Dorian Q. Denham. Tim
Title:	Sherds as archaeobotanical assemblages: Gua Sireh reconsidered
Date:	2020
Source:	Antiquity
DOI:	https://doi.org/10.15184/aqy.2020.166
Abstract:	The earliest claim for domesticated rice in Island Southeast Asia (4960–3565 cal BP) derives from a single grain embedded in a ceramic sherd from Gua Sireh Cave, Borneo. In a first assessment of spikelet-base assemblages within pottery sherds using quantitative microCT analysis, the authors found no additional rice remains within this sherd to support the early date of rice farming; analysis of a more recent Gua Sireh sherd (1990–830 cal BP), however, indicates that 70 per cent of spikelet bases are from domesticated rice. This technique offers a high degree of contextual and temporal resolution for approaching organic-tempered ceramics as well-preserved archaeobotanical assemblages.
Date Available:	Available online September 2020