Paleoethnobotany : a Handbook of Procedures
This book describes the approaches and techniques of paleoethnobotany--the study of the interrelationships between human populations and the plant world through the archaeological record. Its purpose is twofold. First, it assembles in one volume the three major methods of paleoethnobotany, the analysis of macroremains, pollen analysis, and phytolith analysis, for the student or professional interested in the field. Second, it presents on paleoethnobotanist's view of the discipline: its past, present, and future, its strengths and weaknesses, and its role in modern archaeology.ï A comprehensive
1 online resource (483 pages)
9781483288963, 148328896X
893740455
Front Cover; Paleoethnobotany: A Handbook of Procedures; Copyright Page; Dedication; Table of Contents; Preface; Acknowledgments; Chapter 1. The Paleoethnobotanical Approach; Introduction; Historical Overview; Nature and Status of Ethnobotany; References; Chapter 2 Techniques for Recovering Macroremains; Introduction; In Situ Collection of Material; Screening Techniques; Water Recovery: Flotation Techniques; Building and Operating Flotation Systems: Sample Designs; Issues in Recovery of Macroremains; Sampling for Macroremains; References. Chapter 3. Identification and Interpretation of MacroremainsIntroduction; Initial Processing of Samples; Building a Comparative Collection; Basic Identification Techniques; Specialized Identification Techniques; Presenting and Interpreting Results; References; Chapter 4. Archaeological Palynology; Introduction; Nature and Production of Pollen; History of Pollen Analysis; Field Sampling; Laboratory Analysis; Presenting and Interpreting Results; References; Chapter 5. Phytolith Analysis; Introduction; Nature and Occurrence of Phytoliths; Phytoliths and Archaeology: A Brief History. Status of Phytolith AnalysisField Sampling; Laboratory Analysis; Presenting and Interpreting Results; References; Chapter 6. Integrating Paleoethnobotanical Data; Introduction; Strengths and Weaknesses of Paleoethnobotanical Data; Examples of Paleoethnobotanical Interpretation; Special Topic: Reconstructing Prehistoric Diet; Special Topic: Reconstructing Paleoenvironment; References; Index