 Attalea species have a long history of human utilisation . Carbonised Attalea maripa seeds have been found in archaeological sites in Colombia dating back to 9000 BP . A variety of species remain important sources of edible oil , thatch , edible seeds and fibre . The leaves of Attalea butyracea and A. maripa are used extensively for thatching . Several species are oil palms , with A. speciosa among the most important economically . Products extracted from A. speciosa were reported to support over 300 @,@ 000 households in the Brazilian state of Maranhão in 2005 , and in 1985 it was estimated to support over 450 @,@ 000 households throughout the Brazil . Piassava fibres , extracted from the leaf bases of A. funifera , are commercially important , and generated about US $ 20 million in annual income to Brazilian farmers in 1996 . 
 Attalea species <a href='got' title='1'><mark>have</mark></a> a long history of human utilisation . Carbonised Attalea maripa seeds <a href='been_done' title='2'><mark>have</mark></a> been found in archaeological sites in Colombia dating back to 9000 BP . A variety of species remain important sources of edible oil , thatch , edible seeds and fibre . The leaves of Attalea butyracea and A. maripa are used extensively for thatching . Several species <a href='drop_aux' title='3'><mark>are</mark></a>oil palms , with A. speciosa among the most important economically . Products extracted from A. speciosa <a href='uninflect' title='4'><mark>were</mark></a> reported to support over 300 @,@ 000 households in the Brazilian state of Maranhão in 2005 , and in 1985 it was estimated to support over 450 @,@ 000 households throughout the Brazil . Piassava fibres , extracted from the leaf bases of A. funifera , <a href='drop_aux' title='5'><mark>are</mark></a>commercially important , and generated about US $ 20 million in annual income to Brazilian farmers in 1996 . 
Attalea species got a long history of human utilisation . Carbonised Attalea maripa seeds done been found in archaeological sites in Colombia dating back to 9000 BP . A variety of species remain important sources of edible oil , thatch , edible seeds and fibre . The leaves of Attalea butyracea and A. maripa r used extensively for thatching . Several species oil palms , with A. speciosa among the most important economically . Products extracted from A. speciosa was reported to support over 300 @,@ 000 households in the Brazilian state of Maranhão in 2005 , and in 1985 it was estimated to support over 450 @,@ 000 households throughout da Brazil . Piassava fibres , extracted from the leaf bases of A. funifera , commercially important , and generated about US $ 20 million in annual income to Brazilian farmers in 1996 .