New archaeobotanical records about the use of fruits in sambaqui diet

Abstract

For archaeological sites in Brazil, there are countless reports of the presence of carbonized fruits (coquinhos). However, difficulties in identifying the associated species, due to the megadiverse scenario of the Brazilian flora, has resulted in a gap in knowledge about the diet of the sambaquiano people. This study aimed to taxonomically identify the macrobotanical remains of carbonized fruits in order to better understand the sambaquiano diet. All the archaeological material analyzed came from the Cubatão I archaeological site in the city of Joinville, Santa Catarina, and belongs to the archaeological collection of the Sambaqui Museum of Joinville. The taxonomic identification of plant species (carbonized fruits) was based on classifying the fruits into morphotypes and then comparing them with a reference collection. Samples of ripe fruits from palms were collected to determine their nutritional content. A total of 905 macrobotanical remains (261 g) typified as carbonized fruits were analyzed. The obtained carpological profile showed the highest prevalence in the layer located at a depth of 2.03–2.08 m. Three fruit / seed species belonging to two botanical families were identified: juçara palm - Euterpe edulis Mart., jerivá - Syagrus romanzoffiana (Cham.) Glassman (Arecaceae) and guaraparim - Vantanea compacta (Schnizl.) Cuatrec. (Humiriaceae). The taxonomic identifications made during this study increase what is known about the range of forest resources used by the sambaquianos on the coast of Santa Catarina, the knowledge these people had about plant species and the way of life and the diet of past populations.