Abstract

ELICHIRY, Valeria  and  MUSAUBACH, María G.. Wild grasses and their anthropic use. The case of the genus Bromus in two humid environments in the South of the Southern Cone. Bol. Soc. Argent. Bot. [online]. 2023, vol.58, n.2, pp.10-10.  Epub June 01, 2023. ISSN 1851-2372.  http://dx.doi.org/10.31055/1851.2372.v58.n2.39607.

Background and aims: Bromus is a paradigmatic genus among wild grasses related to people. Its knowledge contributes to the issue of use and consumption of wild grasses from the human settlement in the South of the Southern Cone to the present. We focus on humid environments in the central sector of Argentina (humid Pampean sub-region) and Chile (Central and Central-South), ranging from the Pacific to the Atlantic. Aims: To discuss the scope and limitations in the investigation on different relationships established between people and grasses in the cited regions To characterize the relevance of grasses study. Particularly, Bromus genus, by synthesizing the current state of their knowledge.

M&M: Through a bibliographic compilation, we reviewed the discussion on the use of grasses in the past and developed a database that systematizes information from different sources of evidence (botanical, ethnobotanical and archaeological) regarding Bromus spp. We also present microphotographs of redundant and characteristic phytoliths and starch grains.

Results and conclusions: In archaeological contexts, wild grasses are associated with room flooring, different technologies, stylistic features and potentially linked to alimentation. From the ethnobotanical records, more dimensions are added: toponymy, textiles, preparation and consumption practices and their material referents. Finally, Bromus spp. phytoliths assemblage and starch grains have distinctive characteristics.

Keywords : Archaeobotany; archaeology of food; Argentinian Pampean region; Bromus mango; central Chilean region; ethnobotany.

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