Starch on stone tools at the Nishitaragasako site, Kagoshima, Japan, and its plant utilization in the Upper Palaeolithic period <Article>

本研究は,鹿児島県西多羅ヶ迫遺跡で出土した後期旧石器時代の石器から残存デンプン粒分析を行い,石器の用途や当時の植物利用について考察した。分析した11点の台石や磨石類から,合計160個の残存デンプン粒を検出した。使用痕と残存デンプン粒検出との関連が認められる石器については植物加工に用いられた可能性を提示し,使用痕は確認できるが残存デンプン粒を検出しなかった石器は石器製作用であると結論付けた。同じ石器から植物の種類が異なる円形と五角形のデンプン粒を検出した結果からは,石器で2種類以上の植物が加工された可能性を指摘した。残存デンプン粒と現生標本との形態学的な比較により,残存デンプン粒の候補となる植物としては13属29種が挙げられた。残存デンプン粒の外形と粒径から,これらの植物にはクリやコナラ属,オニグルミなどの堅果類,ワラビやオオウバユリなどの鱗茎・根茎類が含まれている。The uses of Upper Palaeolithic stone tools and plants at the Nishitaragasako site, Kagoshima, were explored by analysing starch residues on the tools. The total starch granule numbers recorded were 160 from 11 sampled stone tools. The quantities of starch found by point sampling were compared on the working and non-working surfaces of stone slabs and grinding stones. More starch granules were found on working surfaces, and they may have been used for processing plants. But no starch granules on working surfaces may have been used for stone tool making. The co-occurrence of spherical and pentagonal starch granules on individual tools suggests that more than two plant species were utilized within the working life of individual grinding stones. Initial visual comparisons of ancient starch samples and modern reference samples suggested the possible presence of 13 genera and 29 identifiable species. The candidates for ancient presence at the Nishitaragasako site include Castanea crenata, Quercus, Juglans ailanthifolia, Pteridium aquilinum, and Cardiocrinum. These candidates were indicated by the size and geometric form of starch granules