Updated Microfossil and 14C Analyses of Ifugao Rice Terraces, Philippine Cordilleras, Reveal Early Taro and Rice Cultivation, and New Parasite Discoveries1

New analyses of microfossils and radiocarbon dating from the Ifugao Rice Terraces in the Philippine Cordilleras reveal that taro (Colocasia esculenta) and rice (Oryza sativa) cultivation began at least 810–750 years ago, predating previous estimates by a century. These findings challenge the notion of post-Hispanic expansion for rice cultivation while supporting its spread during this period. Additionally, the study identifies helminth eggs, including Toxocara canis, marking the first early Philippine record of this parasite. The research combines microfossil analysis with 14C dating and helminthology to reconstruct agricultural and parasitic histories in the region.

Horrocks, M., Peterson, J., Bickler, S. H., & Presswell, B. (2025). Updated Microfossil and 14C Analyses of Ifugao Rice Terraces, Philippine Cordilleras, Reveal Early Taro and Rice Cultivation, and New Parasite Discoveries1. Pacific Science, 78(3). https://doi.org/10.2984/78.3.1