ABSTRACT
Artifacts, particularly stone tools, appear to operate as a 'starch trap' by shielding starch from decay by microorganisms and providing suitable conditions for long-term preservation (cf. Chapter 5). This situation provides opportunities for two related types of analysis. First, one can study how these artifacts were used in the past by integrating analyses of starch granules with other approaches, such as the study of use-wear or additional residue types. Second, identifications of starch granules on artifacts aids the reconstruction of past plant use and diet. Case studies using the latter approach were reviewed in Chapter 7. This chapter focuses on how starchy residues can be used to inform on artifact use.
