Dr. Michelle Eusebio: Culinary Heritage in Southeast Asia through Archaeological Chemistry

Summary

Dr. Michelle Escusevia presents her research on culinary heritage in Southeast Asia using archaeological chemistry. She explores how organic residue analysis can reveal ancient cooking practices and diets, focusing on pottery samples from the Philippines and Vietnam. Her findings suggest diverse food sources, including terrestrial animals, plants, and fish, and highlight the importance of food diversity for cultural identity and sustainability.

Takeaways

• 🎓 Dr. Michelle Escusevia has a unique academic background, with a Bachelor's in Chemistry and a PhD in Archaeology and Anthropology from the University of Florida.
• 🍲 Her research focuses on the culinary heritage in Southeast Asia, specifically using archaeological chemistry to understand past food practices.
• 🧪 Organic residue analysis is a key method in her research, which involves extracting and analyzing organic compounds like lipids from archaeological samples.
• 🥘 The study aims to understand the development of contemporary cuisines and the origins of Asian food waste, which is crucial for grasping dietary habits from over 2000 years ago.
• 🌿 She examines the full cycle of food waste, including production, procurement, processing, distribution, storage, cooking, presentation, and consumption.
• 🧬 Techniques like gas chromatography and mass spectrometry are used to identify organic remains that traditional archaeological methods cannot.
• 🥬 In her studies, she found that people in Pura Companga during the 13th to 14th century likely utilized terrestrial resources and possibly fish for their daily diet.
• 🌾 At the Old Kiangan Village, prior to the Little Ice Age, there's no evidence for rice cultivation, but other starchy sources like taro and yam were likely cooked.
• 🐟 In Southern Vietnam, her research indicates that pottery was used for cooking plant foods and freshwater fish, similar to present-day practices.
• 🌱 The continuity of culinary practices, especially the use of pottery for plant and aquatic food sources, was observed from the Neolithic to the Metal Age.
• 🌐 Her work promotes the understanding and appreciation of long-term culinary heritage in Southeast Asia and its implications on food security, sustainability, and cultural identity.

Q & A

What is the primary focus of Dr. Michelle Eusebio's research?

Dr. Michelle Eusebio's research primarily focuses on combining chemistry and archaeology to explore and deduce culinary practices in Southeast Asia through the analysis of organic residues found in ancient pottery.

What is organic residue analysis, and how is it used in Dr. Eusebio's research?

Organic residue analysis is a method that uses analytical organic chemical techniques to identify the nature and origins of organic remains, such as lipids, proteins, and carbohydrates, absorbed into pottery vessels. Dr. Eusebio uses this technique to infer the types of food prepared and consumed by ancient peoples.

Which regions and time periods does Dr. Eusebio's research cover?

Dr. Eusebio's research covers Southeast Asian regions, including the Philippines and Vietnam, focusing on prehistoric periods, including the Neolithic and Metal Ages, as well as specific sites like the Ifugao Rice Terraces in the Philippines and the Mekong Delta in Vietnam.

How does Dr. Eusebio differentiate between plant and animal food sources in her analysis?

Dr. Eusebio differentiates between plant and animal food sources by analyzing the lipid profiles and stable isotopic ratios of carbon and nitrogen from the organic residues. Specific biomarkers and isotopic values indicate whether the food source was a plant, aquatic, or terrestrial animal.

What are some of the significant findings from Dr. Eusebio's research in the Ifugao Rice Terraces?

In the Ifugao Rice Terraces, Dr. Eusebio's research suggests that before rice cultivation, the inhabitants primarily relied on plant-based food sources such as taro, yam, breadfruit, and possibly an unidentified C4 plant, with little evidence of rice cultivation before the Little Ice Age and Spanish colonization.

What did the research on prehistoric pottery from Southern Vietnam reveal about ancient diets?

The research on prehistoric pottery from Southern Vietnam revealed that the ancient inhabitants of the Mekong Delta primarily consumed plant-based diets, with evidence of aquatic food sources, including freshwater fish. The findings also highlight the continuity of culinary practices involving the use of leafy vegetables and other plants over time.

How does Dr. Eusebio's research contribute to our understanding of Southeast Asian culinary heritage?

Dr. Eusebio's research contributes to our understanding of Southeast Asian culinary heritage by providing insights into the long-term development of food practices, the continuity of certain dietary habits, and the significance of plant and aquatic food sources in ancient Southeast Asian societies.

What challenges did Dr. Eusebio face during her research presentation?

During her research presentation, Dr. Eusebio faced technical difficulties with screen sharing, which delayed the start of her slides, and she had to ask the webinar administrators for assistance multiple times.

What future research directions does Dr. Eusebio intend to pursue?

Dr. Eusebio intends to continue her research on culinary heritage in Southeast Asia, both locally and internationally, with plans for follow-up analyses and collaborations to further explore the relationship between food practices and cultural identity.

What is the significance of the continuity of culinary practices in Dr. Eusebio's findings?

The continuity of culinary practices, as observed in Dr. Eusebio's findings, indicates a stable and enduring food culture in Southeast Asia. This continuity reflects how ancient communities adapted to their environment, maintained their cultural identity, and developed sustainable food practices over millennia.