Possible Evidence of Pre-Columbian Transoceanic Voyages Based on Conventional LSC and AMS 14C Dating of Associated Charcoal and a Carbonized Seed of Custard Apple (Annona squamosa L.)

An attempt was made to trace the antiquity of custard apple in India on the basis of accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS) and liquid scintillation counting (LSC) radiocarbon dates. Recently, seed remains of custard apple (Annona squamosa L.) in association with wood charcoals were encountered from the Neolithic archaeological site of Tokwa at the confluence of the Belan and Adwa rivers, Mirzapur District, in the Vidhyan Plateau region of north-central India. The wood charcoal sample was dated at the 14C laboratory of the Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeobotany (BSIP), Lucknow, by conventional LSC 14C dating. The sample dated to 1740 cal BC (BS-2054). A seed sample of custard apple was dated by AMS at the Institute of Physics 14C laboratory, Bhubaneswar, India (3MV tandem Pelletron accelerator). Interestingly, the AMS date was given as 1520 cal BC (IOPAMS-10), showing a reasonable agreement with the LSC date carried out at BSIP. On botanical grounds, the custard apple is native to South America and the West Indies and was supposed to have been introduced in India by the Portuguese in the 16th century. The present 14C dates of the samples pushes back the antiquity of custard apple on Indian soil to the 2nd millennium BC, favoring a group of specialists proposing diverse arguments for Asian-American transoceanic contacts before the discovery of America by Columbus in AD 1492.

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Clay Minerals in Soils as Evidence of Holocene Climatic Change, Central Indo-Gangetic Plains, North-Central India

Quaternary Research ◽

10.1006/qres.1998.1994 ◽

1998 ◽

Vol 50 (3) ◽

pp. 230-239 ◽

Cited By ~ 47

Author(s):

Pankaj Srivastava ◽

Bramha Parkash ◽

Dilip K. Pal

Keyword(s):

Central India ◽

Humid Climate ◽

Climatic Fluctuations ◽

Radiocarbon Dates ◽

North Central ◽

Gangetic Plains ◽

The Holocene ◽

Paleoclimatic Changes ◽

Mineral Assemblages ◽

Potential Indicator

Clay mineral assemblages of a soil chrono-association comprising five fluvial surface members (QGH1 to QGH5) of the Indo-Gangetic Plains between the Ramganga and Rapti rivers, north-central India, demonstrate that pedogenic interstratified smectite–kaolin (Sm/K) can be considered as a potential indicator for paleoclimatic changes during the Holocene from arid to humid climates. On the basis of available radiocarbon dates, thermoluminescence dates, and historical evidence, tentative ages assigned to QGH1 to QGH5 are <500 yr B.P., >500 yr B.P., >2500 yr B.P., 8000 TL yr B.P., and 13,500 TL yr B.P., respectively. During pedogenesis two major regional climatic cycles are recorded: relatively arid climates between 10,000–6500 yr B.P. and 3800–? yr B.P. were punctuated by a warm and humid climate. Biotite weathered to trioctahedral vermiculite and smectite in the soils during arid conditions, and smectite was unstable and transformed to Sm/K during the warm and humid climatic phase (7400–4150 cal yr B.P.). When the humid climate terminated, vermiculite, smectite, and Sm/K were preserved to the present day. The study suggests that during the development of soils in the Holocene in alluvium of the Indo-Gangetic Plains, climatic fluctuations appear to be more important than realized hitherto. The soils older than 2500 yr B.P. are relict paleosols, but they are polygenetic because of their subsequent alterations.

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Analysis of Charcoal and Wood from Czarnowko Site (Pomerania Region, Poland): 14C Dating Versus Relative Chronology Show Consistent Evidence of Wielbark Culture Presence

Radiocarbon ◽

10.1017/rdc.2016.101 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 59 (1) ◽

pp. 45-60

Author(s):

M Benysek ◽

D Michalska ◽

E Fabisiak ◽

W Stawikowski

Keyword(s):

Organic Matter ◽

Archaeological Site ◽

14C Dating ◽

Radiocarbon Dates ◽

High Importance ◽

Relative Chronology ◽

Different Cultures ◽

Geological Research ◽

Archaeological Excavations ◽

Scanning Electron

AbstractThis article presents the results of interdisciplinary analysis of samples from the Czarnówko archaeological site in northern Poland, reporting the first radiocarbon dates for the site in comparison with its relative chronology. The site is of high importance because of its scale and opulence of artifacts. It was used for over 900 yr, from the 7th century BC up to the 3rd century AD, by populations of different cultures (the Lusatian, Pomeranian, Oksywie, and Wielbark). Samples of charcoal, wood, and textile were collected from different features, most of them from burials. Charcoal was taken from cremation pits, while wood was sampled from coffins in skeletal burials. Among samples collected during archaeological excavations in 2008 and 2010, 20 were chosen for 14C dating and macro- and microscopic observations. Images taken using a scanning electron microscope revealed the microstructure and preservation level of the specimens. An emphasis was also placed on geomorphological and geological research of the site area to gain information about the environmental conditions influencing the samples’ preservation state, e.g. pH, type, origin and permeability of sediment, and accumulation of organic matter. The obtained calibrated 14C ages are in agreement with the relative chronology based on the typology of artifacts and stratigraphic site reconstructions.

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The right combination of N-P-K fertilization may mitigate salt stress in custard apple (Annona squamosa L.)

Acta Physiologiae Plantarum ◽

10.1007/s11738-021-03225-1 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 43 (4) ◽

Author(s):

Francisco Vanies da Silva Sá ◽

Hans Raj Gheyi ◽

Geovani Soares de Lima ◽

Francisco Wesley Alves Pinheiro ◽

Emanoela Pereira de Paiva ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Salt Stress ◽

Annona Squamosa ◽

Custard Apple ◽

The Right ◽

K Fertilization

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Custard Apple (Annona squamosa L.) Leaves: Nutritional Composition, Phytochemical Profile, and Health-Promoting Biological Activities

Biomolecules ◽

10.3390/biom11050614 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (5) ◽

pp. 614

Author(s):

Manoj Kumar ◽

Sushil Changan ◽

Maharishi Tomar ◽

Uma Prajapati ◽

Vivek Saurabh ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Biological Activities ◽

Lipid Lowering ◽

Pharmaceutical Drugs ◽

Annona Squamosa ◽

Tropical Fruit ◽

Custard Apple ◽

Health Promoting ◽

Phytochemical Profile

Annona squamosa L. (custard apple) belongs to the family Annonaceae and is an important tropical fruit cultivated in the West Indies, South and Central America, Ecuador, Peru, Brazil, India, Mexico, the Bahamas, Bermuda, and Egypt. Leaves of custard apple plants have been studied for their health benefits, which are attributed to a considerable diversity of phytochemicals. These compounds include phenol-based compounds, e.g., proanthocyanidins, comprising 18 different phenolic compounds, mainly alkaloids and flavonoids. Extracts from Annona squamosa leaves (ASLs) have been studied for their biological activities, including anticancer, antidiabetic, antioxidant, antimicrobial, antiobesity, lipid-lowering, and hepatoprotective functions. In the current article, we discussed the nutritional and phytochemical diversity of ASLs. Additionally, ASL extracts were discussed with respect to their biological activities, which were established by in vivo and in vitro experiments. A survey of the literature based on the phytochemical profile and health-promoting effects of ASLs showed that they can be used as potential ingredients for the development of pharmaceutical drugs and functional foods. Although there are sufficient findings available from in vitro and in vivo investigations, clinical trials are still needed to determine the exact effects of ASL extracts on human health.

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Reconstructing the Chronology of the House XVII-XVIII Complex at Umm el-Jimal, East Jordan: Radiocarbon Dates of Organic Inclusions of Architectural Mortars

Radiocarbon ◽

10.2458/56.16945 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 56 (1) ◽

pp. 245-256 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Khaled Al-Bashaireh

Keyword(s):

Mass Spectrometry ◽

Accelerator Mass Spectrometry ◽

Archaeological Site ◽

Housing Demand ◽

Radiocarbon Dates ◽

Archaeological Data ◽

Lime Mortars ◽

Byzantine Period

This article presents accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS) radiocarbon dates of organic inclusions of cement materials from the House XVII-XVIII Complex located in the Umm el-Jimal archaeological site, east Jordan, aiming at refining the unclear chronology of the house. Fine straws and small fragments of charcoal uncovered from preserved architectural lime mortars and plasters were dated without carrying out extensive excavations. The results indicate that the house most probably was initially plastered or built during the middle of the Byzantine period. The results agree with the historical and archaeological data indicating that Umm el-Jimal flourished during this period; therefore, it is probable that the house was established during this time to meet the housing demand for the increased number of its population.

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