The development of database models of charred rice grains excavated from archaeological sites

研究中使用了从考古遗址中挖掘出来的烧焦的米粒。这里使用的米粒主要是由已故的佐藤敏也先生收集的，他一直在积极研究20世纪60年代至1985年发掘的米粒的形状。这些样品一直保存在大阪府弥生文化博物馆。样品首先在CCD显微相机下拍摄。这些数据以数字记录的形式保存。这些记录的大小为1.5兆~ 2.0兆。这些记录将与考古记录以及形状和大小数据一起进入数据库。然后进行DNA分析，了解其遗传特征。采用碱性SDS法提取DNA。将提取的DNA进行PCR扩增，确定该水稻是籼稻还是粳稻，是温带粳稻还是热带粳稻。结果表明，几乎所有样品都属于粳稻。一些属于热带粳稻，适应广泛种植。也许，日本诸岛的古代水稻种植与印度支那半岛高地地区至今仍在进行的刀耕火种制度有相似之处。

Charred rice grain, that were excavated from archaeological sites were used in this study. The rice grains used here were mainly collected by the late Mr. Toshiya Sato, who has been actively studying on the shape of rice grains excavated during 1960s to 1985. The samples have been preserved in Osaka prefecture Yayoi culture Museum.The samples were first taken their photos under the CCD microscopic camera. The data has been kept as digital records. The size of the data was as big as 1.5 Mb to 2.0 Mb. The records will be taken into a database with the archaeological records as well as the data for their shape and size.Then, DNA analysis was performed to know their genetic feature. DNA was extracted by alkaline SDS method. DNA Extracted was amplified by PCR to know whether the rice was classified into indica or japonica, and if japonica, temperate japonica or tropical japonica. The results showed that almost all samples belonged to japonica. Some belonged to tropical japonica, that adapts to extensive cultivation. Perhaps, ancient rice cultivation in Japan islands showed a similarity to slash-and-burn system, which is performed in upland areas in Indochina peninsula still now.