DE LA PLANTA A LA BOCA: IDENTIFICACIÓN DE RESTOS VEGETALES EN LOS SITIOS EL POLEAR 1 Y UTURUNCO 1 A PARTIR DEL ANÁLISIS DE CÁLCULO DENTAL HUMANO.

This paper presents the results obtained from the study and identification of plant microremains (phytoliths and starch grains) retained in dental calculus recovered from eighteen teeth corresponding to a minimum of four individuals, product of both surface collections and stratigraphic excavations of the archaeological sites El Polear 1 (EP1) and Uturunco 1 (U1), located in the northern portion of the bottom of the Ambato Valley (prov. Catamarca, Argentina). The information obtained suggests the consumption and/or handling of wild plants related to the Poaceae family and, in particular, to the genus Neltuma sp. (carob) and possibly Cannaceae. Regarding cultivated plants, panicoid elements linked to Zea mays (maize) were observed, as well as morphotypes related to Solanum tuberosum (potato). Finally, pollen grains associated with the Amaranthaceae-Chenopodiacea e family were identified. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]