DISTINGUISHING RICE (ORYZA-SATIVA POACEAE) FROM WILD ORYZA SPECIES THROUGH PHYTOLITH ANALYSIS - RESULTS OF PRELIMINARY RESEARCH

Asian rice is an important grain, not only in its homeland but in many areas of the world Identifying rice in the archaeological record is a challenge, especially in the moist tropics, where organic materials p reserve only when charred. Phytolith analysis, the identification of o paline silica bodies, provides an alternative method for identifying t his important crop. Results of our research suggest that Oryza contrib utes phytoliths that are genus-specific, that bulliform characteristic s alone do not permit separation of wild and domesticated Oryza in reg ions where species overlap, and that a number of phytolith types, espe cially silicified glumes, show promise for separating wild from domest icated forms. With further research it should be possible to identify, rice through its phytolith assemblage in archaeological soils in the heartland of its domestication and use.