This readme file was generated on 2022-08-26 by Stefania Wilks; Identification of Starch Granules on Ground Stone Tools Exposed to Fire GENERAL INFORMATION 1. Title of Dataset: Identification of Starch Granules on Ground Stone Tools Exposed to Fire A. Author/Principal Investigator Information Name: Stefania Wilks ORCID:0000-0003-3752-8856 Institution: Natural History Museum of Utah, Department of Anthropology, University of Utah Address: 301 Wakara Way, Salt Lake City, Utah 84108 Email: stefania.wilks@anthro.utah.edu B.Author/Associate or Co-investigator Information Name: Lisbeth A. Louderback ORCID: 0000-0002-9549-3455 Institution: Natural History Museum of Utah, Department of Anthropology, University of Utah Address: 301 Wakara Way, Salt Lake City, Utah 84108 Email: lisbeth.louderback@anthro.utah.edu 2. Date of data collection: 2022-01 through 2022-3 3. Geographic location of data collection: Natural History Museum of Utah, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah 84108 4. Information about funding sources that supported the collection of the data: This project was funded with a 2021 student research grant from the Nevada Archaeological Association and AmArcs of Nevada. SHARING/ACCESS INFORMATION 1. Licenses/restrictions placed on the data: N/A 2. Links to publications that cite or use the data: N/A 3. Links to other publicly accessible locations of the data: N/A 4. Links/relationships to ancillary data sets: N/A 5. Was data derived from another source? NO 6. Recommended citation for this dataset: Wilks, S. & L.A. Louderback (2022) Identification of Starch Granules on Ground Stone Tools Exposed to Fire. DATA & FILE OVERVIEW 1. File List: WilksStats_CloseProximity, WilksStats_DirectContact, WilksStats_IntactData; All data includes individual observations of identifying morphological features on starch granules prior to and following experimental treatments. 2. Relationship between files, if important: The CloseProximity and DirectContact files include all data relevent to each treatment type. Both files begin with the same observational data on native and milled starch granules. The IntactData file includes observational data on all of the undamaged starch from both treatment types and compares the presence of morphologically identifiable features. 3. Additional related data collected that was not included in the current data package: N/A 4. Are there multiple versions of the dataset? NO METHODOLOGICAL INFORMATION 1. Description of methods used for collection/generation of data: Starch Extraction and Identification All samples were processed for starch following standard lab procedures (see Louderback et al., 2015). Large ground stone tools were surface sampled for ~5 min with a sonicating toothbrush and DH2O; smaller tools were sampled after sonicating in a DH2O bath for 3 min. Each sample was rinsed through an Endecott mesh sieve (125µm) with DH2O and sample liquid < 125µm was retained in a 50mL test tube. Sample extract >125µm was discarded. The sample liquid (presumably containing starch) was centrifuged for 3minutes at 3,000 rpm. The supernatant was decanted and the sample pellet was transferred to a sterile 15mL tube with DH2O, mixed with a vortex, centrifuged for 3minutes at 3,000 rpm, and decanted. Samples were resuspended with ~7mL of heavy liquid (lithium heteropolytungstate; specific gravity 2.2), vortex-mixed, and centrifuged for 15 minutes at 1,000rpm. Heavy liquid separates the lighter organic material, including starch granules, from the heavier content. The lighter organics were collected using a pipette and transferred to a new, sterile 15mL tube. Residual heavy liquid was rinsed from the organic matter with ~10mL of DH2O, mixed with a vortex, and centrifuged for 3 minutes at 3,000rpm; twice. The samples were decanted and rinsed with ~7mL of acetone, vortex-mixed, and centrifuged for 3 minutes at 3,000rpm. After decanting one final time, processed samples were left to dry overnight before mounting on glass slides for microscopy observation. Starch granules were measured and described based on a set of established criteria, including maximum length through the hilum (µm), hilum position, two-dimensional shape, clarity of the extinction cross, and the presence or absence of surface features such as fissures and pressure facets (Brown and Louderback 2020; Holst et al., 2007; ICSN, 2011; Joyce et al 2021; Louderback and Pavlik, 2017; Musaubach et al., 2013; Piperno et al., 2004, 2009; Reichert, 1913; Torrence and Barton, 2016). These criteria were recorded as absent (0) or present (1) and expressed as a percentage of the occurrence. Slides were scanned with a transmitted brightfield microscope using polarizing filters and Nomarski optics (Zeiss Axioskop Imager M1, Zeiss International, Göttingen, Germany). Observations were obtained using randomly generated X and Y coordinates on the microscope stage. All starch granules observed within each field of view were measured and described. Images and measurements at 400X were captured under polarized light (POL) with a digital camera (Zeiss AxioCam MRc5) using Zen Core 3.1 imaging and measurement software. The presence of surface features was imaged and recorded in differential interference contrast (DIC) micrographs. Identification and Quantification of Treated Starch To measure the percent or degree of damage to starch granules, milled and burned samples were treated with a Congo Red solution following a protocol similar to Lamb and Loy (2005). Dried residue samples were resuspended with 25µL of Congo Red and absorbed the stain for 15 minutes before diluting with 100µL of DH2O (1:4 ratio). Slides were prepped with 25µL of the hydrated sample and a cover slip was applied but not affixed with fingernail polish (experimentation found that clear fingernail polish interfered with Congo Red stain). The liquified stained samples dried within ~45 minutes, therefore, all observations were photographed immediately. Microscope observations on slides from the milled and burned (close proximity) samples were obtained using randomly generated X and Y coordinates. Samples exposed directly to flame, however, produced fewer measurable granules, so observations were collected by scanning the entire slide. 2. Methods for processing the data: Size distributions from the control, milled, and burned samples were statistically analyzed with a Kolmogorov-Smirnov (K-S) test to determine any significant difference in the distribution of median lengths. Boxplot-stripcharts were generated in R Statistical Software (v4.0.2; R Core Team 2020) to show the quartile summary variation. 3. Instrument- or software-specific information needed to interpret the data: Microsoft Excel and R Programming Language 4. Standards and calibration information, if appropriate: N/A 5. Environmental/experimental conditions: N/A 6. Describe any quality-assurance procedures performed on the data: N/A 7. People involved with sample collection, processing, analysis and/or submission: SW: conceptualization, formal analysis, methodology, writing, and editing of the original draft; LAL: methodology, writing, review, and editing DATA-SPECIFIC INFORMATION FOR: WilksStats_CloseProximity 1. Number of variables: 12 2. Number of cases/rows: 1175 3. Variable List: Treatment (organized by type), LS (Lab Sample # by treatment type), Photo (Observations assigned individual photo#), Length (maximum length through the hilum (µm)), Hila (cenntric=0, eccentric=1), Shape (round=0, irregular=1), Stellate (fissure absent=0, present=1), Transverse (fissure absent=0, present=1), Radial (fissure absent=0, present=1), PrFa (PRessure FAcets; absent=0, present=1), ExCr (EXtinction CRoss absent=0, visible=1), Notes 4. Missing data codes: N/A 5. Specialized formats or other abbreviations used: N/A DATA-SPECIFIC INFORMATION FOR: WilksStats_DirectContact 1. Number of variables: 12 2. Number of cases/rows: 856 3. Variable List: Treatment (organized by type), LS (Lab Sample # by treatment type), Photo (Observations assigned individual photo#), Length (maximum length through the hilum (µm)), Hila (cenntric=0, eccentric=1), Shape (round=0, irregular=1), Stellate (fissure absent=0, present=1), Transverse (fissure absent=0, present=1), Radial (fissure absent=0, present=1), PrFa (PRessure FAcets; absent=0, present=1), ExCr (EXtinction CRoss absent=0, visible=1), Notes 4. Missing data codes: N/A 5. Specialized formats or other abbreviations used: N/A DATA-SPECIFIC INFORMATION FOR: WilksStats_IntactData 1. Number of variables: 12 2. Number of cases/rows: 285 3. Variable List: Treatment (organized by type), LS (Lab Sample # by treatment type), Photo (Observations assigned individual photo#), Length (maximum length through the hilum (µm)), Hila (cenntric=0, eccentric=1), Shape (round=0, irregular=1), Stellate (fissure absent=0, present=1), Transverse (fissure absent=0, present=1), Radial (fissure absent=0, present=1), PrFa (PRessure FAcets; absent=0, present=1), ExCr (EXtinction CRoss absent=0, visible=1), Notes 4. Missing data codes: N/A 5. Specialized formats or other abbreviations used: N/A