Plant exploitation in Neolithic Sudan

Abstract

Analyses of phytoliths from pillow-like grave deposits and phytoliths and starch from dental calculus from human skeletons from the Early and Middle Neolithic Sudanese cemeteries of Ghaba and R12 provide evidence of exploitation of wild and domesticated grasses. The evidence of wheat and barley from R12 indicates that these domesticated taxa were introduced into Africa earlier than known until now. The pillow-like grave deposits provide information about the role of plants in the burial ceremony.