Abstract
Among the three types of millet, "awa", "hie" and "kibi", which were cultivated in ancient Japan, the common millet, "kibi" (Panicum miliaceum L.), was less popular. Hence the samples of "kibi" reported from the archaeological sites were fewer than the other two types. As noted in the previous reports (MATSUTANI 1986b, 1987) grains of these millets are so small that their identification is often difficult, especially when carbonized, unless their cell structures are observed with a scanning electron microscope (SEM). So the carbonized grains of these millets might often be identified as "awa", which was the most popular one. The present study reports the discrimination of common millet among the carbonized grains from a site in Hokkaido belonging to the Satsumon period (9c.-12c.) using SEM. Formerly, these grains were considered as "awa" (Setaria italica (L.) Beauw. ).
