- Archaeological evidence of donkey domestication from Egypt.
- Empower women farmers to ensure food security. Sounds like a plan.
- Good reporter visits good bee research centre. Read all about it.
- Genomics blog discovers CGIAR databases, love at first sight.
Indigo in the Americas
I knew a bit about indigo — but not that in addition to the Old World’s Indigofera tinctoria there’s a separate species in the same genus that was used in ancient America for making dye. I found out because of some interesting detective work on the Maya pigment. I figured that the indigo plant mentioned in the research was something completely different, but it turns out to be I. suffruticosa. Although there do seem to be other genera that produce the colour.
Nibbles: Branding, dogs
- Commodity branding is older than you think. Via.
- Ancient Scandinavian dogs not like modern Scandinavian dogs.
Nibbles: Carnival, pomegranates, cattle, potatoes
- Berry Go Round No. 2 is up with lots and lots of botanical links.
- Pomegranate juice manufacturer says its juice is best.
- Cattle and aurochs did the wild thing.
- The Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs has a potato genebank. With pic goodness.
Mound builders of Norte Chico
Transitioning to agriculture on Peruvian coast 5000 years ago.