Updated microfossil and 14C analyses of Ifugao Rice Terraces, Philippine Cordilleras, reveal early taro and rice cultivation, and new parasite discoveries

Abstract

Presented here are updated results of plant microfossil and 14C analyses of samples from Ifugao Rice Terraces (Old Kiyyangan Village), augmented by helminthology. The first definitive Philippine report of taro (Colocasia esculenta) remains (starch material), and further discoveries of rice (Oryza sativa) remains (starch and phytoliths) suggest establishment of their highland cultivation to at least 810-750 cal B.P. For the latter this is around a century more than previously 14C dated for the Cordilleras. While results support the contention of post-Hispanic expansion of terrace rice cultivation, they do not support post-Hispanic establishment of rice cultivation per se.

Several types of helminth egg, that would have adversely affected people and their commensal animals, were also identified: Ascaris lumbricoides, Hymenolepis diminuta, Taenia sp., and Toxocara canis. The results represent the first early Philippine identification of the latter.

Keywords

Agriculture, Oryza sativa rice, Colocasia esculenta taro, Ascaridida, Cyclophyllidea.