Phytoliths as indicators of plant water availability: The case of millets cultivation in the Indus Valley civilization

The interpretation of crop water management practices has been central to the archeological debate on agricultural strategies and is crucial where type strategy can provide fundamental explanations for adoption use specific crops. Traces administration are difficult detect mostly indirect, in form harvesting or distribution structures. Attempts have made infer plant availability directly from archaeobotanical remains. Current evidence suggests that ratio sensitive fixed phytolith morphotypes be used as a proxy C₃ crops, well sorghum maize. Nevertheless, controversy whether genetically environmentally controlled mechanisms biosilica deposition connected C₄ crops open, several species remain tested their production relation levels. This research aims at clarifying leaf assemblages concentration, silica skeleton size related different regimes Eleusine coracana Gaertn., Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R. Br., Sorghum bicolor Moench. We cultivated 5 traditional landraces each lysimeters, under watering conditions analyzed content/production leaves. Results show higher proportions long cells, bulliforms stomata produced conditions. model built basis composition then applied interpret recovered single phase four sites Indus Civilisation: Harappa, Kanmer, Shikarpur Alamgirpur. results most probably C 4 grew stress conditions, providing new data ancient Valley. • Water treatment good predictor morphotypes. Bulliforms elongates independent transpiration stream. Valley civilization settlements limited