Identification of pollens and spores at the Cilarangan and Kupu Kupu in neolithic period, Mekarsari Village, Lebak Regency, Banten, Indonesia

Abstract

Abstract. Husodo T, Sumiyati D, Winantris, Laili N, Wulandari I. 2022. Identification of pollens and spores at the Cilarangan and Kupu Kupu in neolithic period, Mekarsari Village, Lebak Regency, Banten, Indonesia. Pros Sem Nas Masy Biodiv Indon 8: 24-30. Neolithic research in the Banten as a cultural center for developing Javanese culture has been widely carried out. The Kupu Kupu and Cilarangan area, located in the Cibeureum watershed, Mekarsari Village, Banten, is where neolithic sites were found. Identifying plants using pollens and spores stored in soil deposits can predict past ecosystem types. Soil sampling was carried out at one depth of the Test Hole/Lubang Uji (LU) due to archaeological excavations one day earlier. Soil samples LU1B Cilarangan (depth 74 cm) and LU2C Kupu Kupu (depth 98 cm) were preserved to become a dry microscope slide using the acetolysis method. Identification was conducted using parameters of shape, size, polarity, symmetry, aperture, and ornamentation. The results showed 134 individuals from 69 genera/species at both sites and 36 families with the presence of Arboreal Pollen reaching 35.5%, Non-Arboreal Pollen 64.4%, and Spores 32.8%. The dominance of the Cilarangan LU1B reached 63.4% with the number of identified genera/species 88.8% with the presence of Arboreal Pollen at 52.6%%, Non-Arboreal Pollen 40.6%, and Spores 93.3%. The spore presence data showed that the Cilarangan site was a wet ecosystem area (the presence of spores was up to 93.3%) compared to the Kupu Kupu site (the similarity index of spore plants was below 2.2%). The dominant plants at both locations were Graminae and Leguminaseae, as well as Anemiaceae, Araceae at the Cilarangan site.