Starch granule evidence for the presence of chuño at the Middle Horizon (A.D. 600–1000) site of Quilcapampa La Antigua, Peru

Biwer, Matthew E.; Melton, Mallory A.

doi:10.1016/j.jasrep.2022.103604

Cited by 3 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 9 publications

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“…Because algarrobo trees are located closer to the Sihuas River, the introduction of algarrobo pods into camelid diets may have occurred during periodic grazing along the river's edge. Moreover, morphological characteristics of the desiccated potato recovered at Quilcapampa are consistent with expectations for chuño , which was also identified in microbotanical residues on ceramic and groundstone artifacts at the site (Biwer and Melton 2021, 2022). Situating our microbotanical results alongside the site's stable and radiogenic isotope findings, other botanical and faunal datasets, and environmental conditions allows us to consider how camelids may have gained access to the identified resources.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 78%

Reconstructing Middle Horizon Camelid Diets and Foddering Practices: Microbotanical and Isotope Analyses of Dental Remains from Quilcapampa, Peru

Melton¹,

Alaica

Biwer

et al. 2023

Latin Am. antiq.

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This study uses isotope and microbotanical data from the analysis of teeth and dental calculus to investigate camelid diet and foddering practices at Quilcapampa (AD 835–900). By providing taxonomically specific evidence of foods consumed, botanical data from dental calculus complement the more general impressions of photosynthetic pathways obtained through isotopic analysis. Results suggest that the camelid diet incorporated maize (Zea mays), algarrobo (Prosopis sp.), potato chuño (Solanum sp.), and other resources. The life-history profile of one camelid (Individual 3) reveals dietary change from mainly C3 plants to more C4 plant contributions as the animal aged. This pattern is supported by carbonate isotope results indicating that this individual spent its youth in the mid-valley ecozone before becoming more mobile later in life. As this life-history example shows, isotopic and microbotanical analyses are complementary approaches, clarifying a pattern of seasonal transhumance that linked the lives of humans and animals along the Middle Horizon (AD 600–1000) caravan networks that crisscrossed the central Andes.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 78%

Reconstructing Middle Horizon Camelid Diets and Foddering Practices: Microbotanical and Isotope Analyses of Dental Remains from Quilcapampa, Peru

Melton¹,

Alaica

Biwer

et al. 2023

Latin Am. antiq.

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“…This procedure yields a product referred to as chuño negro. Additionally, there exists a variation of the traditional method known as chuño blanco, Tunta, or Moraya [31][32][33].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Fatty Acids and Starch Identification within Minute Archaeological Fragments: Qualitative Investigation for Assessing Feasibility

Ordoñez-Araque,

Ramos-Guerrero,

Vargas-Jentzsch

et al. 2024

Foods

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Within the realm of archaeology, the analysis of biomolecules assumes significant importance in elucidating historical dietary patterns and their implications for contemporary contexts. To achieve this, knowledge and tools of both chemistry and archaeology are essential to yield objective outcomes and conduct analyses of archaeological materials for the detection of biomolecules. Usually, only minuscule remnants of ceramic fragments are retrieved from excavations, which limits the feasibility of comprehensive laboratory analysis. This study aimed to establish a protocol for analyzing fatty acids and starch from archaeological food utensils with minimal sample quantities. Various experiments were conducted to replicate preparations that might have occurred in archaeological vessels, aiming to establish the optimal protocol. The analyses were performed using clay griddles, subjecting vegetable oil to varying temperatures for fatty acid assessment. For starch analysis, a series of experiments encompassed diverse forms of potato preparations (pulp, chuño, tortilla, carbonization, and freeze-drying) and maize (flour, tortilla, and carbonization). The verification of the experiments was confirmed by conducting identical analyses, as developed in the current study, on authentic archaeological fragments. The principal outcomes of this investigation include the successful extraction of both types of biomolecules using only 0.25 g of the sample, obtained through direct scraping from the vessel. Soxhlet extraction was identified as the most efficient strategy to recover fatty acids. Additionally, a comprehensive protocol for the identification of starch extraction was developed. This study has, for the first time, elucidated two detailed methodologies for the extraction of fatty acids and starch in scenarios in which researchers can obtain limited quantities of archaeological food utensil fragments.

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“…Ref. [3] indicates that bitter potatoes are not used in nature because of their bitter taste but in preparing freeze-dried and dehydrated potato products called chuño, also known as moraya or tunta, which are highly storable [4]. During this process, they lose the bitter taste, which causes the content of glycoalkaloids [3], and they are used in various typical foods.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Structural, Thermal, Rheological, and Morphological Characterization of the Starches of Sweet and Bitter Native Potatoes Grown in the Andean Region

Luque-Vilca,

Pampa-Quispe,

Pumacahua-Ramos

et al. 2023

Polymers

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This study aimed to extract and characterize the morphological, physicochemical, thermal, and rheological properties of the starches of native potatoes grown in the department of Puno. Among the varieties evaluated were sweet native potato varieties Imilla Negra (Solanum tuberosum spp. Andígena), Imilla Blanca (Solanum tuberosum spp. Andígena), Peruanita, Albina or Lomo (Solanum chaucha), and Sutamari, and the bitter potatoes Rucki or Luki (Solanum juzepczukii Buk), Locka (Solanum curtilobum), Piñaza (Solanum curtilobum), and Ocucuri (Sola-num curtilobum), acquired from the National Institute of Agrarian Innovation (INIA-Puno). The proximal composition, amylose content, and morphological, thermal, and rheological properties that SEM, DSC, and a rheometer determined, respectively, were evaluated, and the data obtained were statistically analyzed using a completely randomized design and then a comparison of means using Tukey’s LSD test. The results show a significant difference in the proximal composition (p ≤ 0.05) concerning moisture content, proteins, fat, ash, and carbohydrates. Thus, the amylose content was also determined, ranging from 23.60 ± 0.10 to 30.33 ± 0.15%. The size morphology of the granules is 13.09–47.73 µm; for the thermal and rheological properties of the different varieties of potato starch, it is shown that the gelatinization temperature is in a range of 57 to 62 °C and, for enthalpy, between 3 and 5 J/g.

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Starch granule evidence for the presence of chuño at the Middle Horizon (A.D. 600–1000) site of Quilcapampa La Antigua, Peru

Cited by 3 publications

References 9 publications

Reconstructing Middle Horizon Camelid Diets and Foddering Practices: Microbotanical and Isotope Analyses of Dental Remains from Quilcapampa, Peru

Reconstructing Middle Horizon Camelid Diets and Foddering Practices: Microbotanical and Isotope Analyses of Dental Remains from Quilcapampa, Peru

Fatty Acids and Starch Identification within Minute Archaeological Fragments: Qualitative Investigation for Assessing Feasibility

Structural, Thermal, Rheological, and Morphological Characterization of the Starches of Sweet and Bitter Native Potatoes Grown in the Andean Region

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