Early Bananas in Africa: The state of the art

• DOI: 10.17348/era.7.0.353-362
• Publication Date: 2016-05-11T18:24:30Z
• Authors: Katharina Neumann; Elisabeth Hildebrand
• Keywords: Phytolith

Because the genus Musa is not indigenous to Africa, remains of bananas in African archaeological or geological contexts indicate cultivation domesticated forms. During past 10 years, at least two claims have been made for discovery banana phytoliths middle late Holocene (Lejju et al. 2005, 2006, Mbida 2000, 2001, 2006). These finds met with universal acceptance (cf. Vansina 2003), part because application phytolith studies archaeology just beginning. In this paper, we examine current evidence and discuss its implications prehistory.We first consider how various scenarios arrival Africa relate broader questions about prehistoric social economic change. We then explore requirements identification light evolutionary, morphological environmental relations between sister taxon Ensete, which grows wild Africa. Finally, evaluate existing suggest ways future research might help consolidate claims.