Abstract:In this article we present the results of a series of analysis performed on a lithic artifact from the Itaparica industry, a limace, found in Lapa Grande de Taquaraçu, an archaeological site bordering the Lagoa Santa area in Central Brazil. The site was occupied between 11.477 ± 133 cal. BP and 1.087 ±78 cal. BP, and the archaeological record for this occupation is related to the archaeological Lagoa Santa Tradition. However, the artifact was found in deeper and relative older archaeological levels, in a different stratigraphy context. The technological analysis confirms its exotic nature, not corresponding to the Lagoa Santa industry, but to another Paleoindian archaeological tradition instead. Its technological features are similar to the limaces related to Itaparica Tradition lithic industries. It's important to notice that this is the only limace found at Lagoa Santa until now, and archaeological context did not allow us to associate it to the Lagoa Santa Tradition. In order to have an insight on the use of this artifact we performed some technological and micro-remain analysis. Various starch grains and other materials were recovered from the active parts of the artifact. The microbotanical analysis indicated the use of the artifact for processing starchy plants. As far as we know, this is the most ancient evidence of the processing of starchy plants in the Americas.

The site of Lapa Grande de Taquaraçu is a limestone shelter located in Minas Gerais, south-central Brazil. The site's chronology ranges from 11,360 ± 110 cal BP to 1,100 ±80 cal BP, with an occupation hiatus from 9,000 ± 70 to 1.100 ± cal BP. In order to define the use of natural resources on this site, sediment from unwashed stone artifacts was analyzed for the presence of blood and starch granules, coupled with this, charred macroremains from the sieve were studied. Starch granules were separated from the sediment by density difference and analyzed under a polarized light microscope. For the detection of hemoglobin, a test was performed using urine test strips. Starch granules of various types were found in all stone artifacts. Three artifacts dimmed positive for the presence of hemoglobin. Among the macroremains, various types of seeds were distinguished, being a species of a small coconut dominant in the registry. There was no significant difference in fuel use at the site's different occupation times. The results seem consistent with previous researches regarding the consumption of starchy foods by the ancient inhabitants of Lagoa Santa. Were also consistent with the regional lithic industry investigations, where artifacts are not created with an specific use in mind.

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