Starch residues on undecorated Lapita pottery from Anir, New Ireland

Starch granules and raphides were identified on the surfaces of undecorated Lapita pottery sherds from the Kamgot site, New Ireland, c. 3300 BP. The microbotanical remains provide direct evidence for on-site plant-processing. Preliminary identification of the residues based on their morphology suggests they are from the aroid, Colocasia esculenta (taro), but further analysis is required to confirm this identification