Subject
Archaeological Evidence, Taro Cropping Systems, Southeast Asian-Pacific Region, Aroid Cultivation, Research History, Intensive Taro Cultivation, Pollen Analysis, Starch Grains, Calcium Oxalate Raphides, Charcoal Identification, Plant Macrofossils, Plant Distribution, Genetic Studies, Linguistics, Field Systems, Irrigation Systems, Pondfield Irrigation, Ancient Drains, Rewa Delta, Viti Levu

Domains
Agriculture, Archéologie, Sciences Sociales, Sciences du vivant, Environnement, Sciences humaines

Description

The paper discusses the archaeological evidence for aroid cultivation, particularly taro, in the Southeast Asian-Pacific region. The author highlights that there has been limited research in the last 20 years, except for some studies in Hawaii, and emphasizes the need for projects focused on the history and development of intensive taro cultivation in the region. The evidence used to address the research questions includes pollen, starch grains, calcium oxalate raphides, charcoal identification, plant macrofossils, plant distributional studies, genetic studies, linguistics, and archaeological evidence of field systems. Other studies mentioned in the paper include the mapping and testing of pondfield irrigation systems in Guadalcanal and the discovery of ancient drains in the Rewa Delta of Viti Levu. The paper also mentions the presence of irrigation systems, island bed systems, and furrow irrigation in different regions, but their association with taro cultivation is not explicitly stated.

Keywords
Taro (Colocasia esculenta), archaeology, Southeast-Asian Pacific Region, cultivation systems

Language
English (en-GB)

Creators
Spriggs, Matthew

Contributors

Sources
In: S. Yoshida and P. Matthews (eds) Vegeculture in Eastern Asia and Oceania, pp.77-94. Japan Centre for Area Studies Symposium Series 16. Osaka: National Museum of Ethnology

Relation

Coverage
Rewa Delta, Viti Levu, Southeast Asian-Pacific Region

Name of newspaper