Starch Grain Analysis of Human Dental Calculus Reveals Plant-Based Dietary Patterns at Kolana, Alor Island, Indonesia

Sekar Kinanthi Wibowo1, M. Dziyaul F. Arrozain2, Mahirta1, Pratiwi Yuwono3, Fayeza Shasliz Arumdhati1, Stuart Hawkins4,5

Recent excavations at Kolana, an open cemetery site in Alor Island, have revealed one of the few explored open habitation-cemetery sites dating to early Neolithic period in Wallacea. Kolana faunal assemblage, comprising both maritime resources and introduced domesticated animals remains, documents a subsistence economy that reflects the dynamic interplay between Austronesian influence and local indigenous traditions. While animal-based foodways have been characterized, the plant component of Kolana inhabitants' diets has remained unexplored, until now. This paper presents starch grain analysis of human dental calculus from Kolana individuals, offering direct evidence of plant consumption. Dental calculus samples from four individuals were processed using EDTA decalcification and examined under polarized light microscopy. Retrieved starch grains were identified through Linear Discriminant Analysis and cluster analysis against a reference collection of one hundred starch grains from local crop species. Results reveal a diverse plant subsistence base including locally available tubers, grains, and palms. We also identified modified starch grains exhibiting damage patterns consistent with grinding, boiling, and roasting, providing the first direct evidence of food processing techniques by early Neolithic communities in this region. This study demonstrates that despite the prominence of marine and domesticated animal resources, plant foods formed a substantial and culturally significant component of Kolana foodways. The presence of both wild and processed starches speaks to the technological knowledge, culinary traditions, and environmental relationships that shaped Neolithic lifeways in Island Southeast Asia, contributing new dimensions to our understanding of how food practices mediated identity and cultural negotiation during this transformative period.