Phytoarchaeology

Phytoarchaeology

The term "phytoarchaeology" has been coined to describe the relationships between the present-day vegetation of a site or area and its archaeology. This relatively new subject has needed a standard reference work for some time and this synthesis provides it. The book also offers practical guidance on the ways in which plants can be used to indicate, identify and exploit archaeological sites. Among the themes discussed are: the vegetation of ancient mine workings, chemical analysis of vegetation to detect and characterize ancient archaeological sites, the influence of historic and prehistoric trade routes on plant distributions, plant indicators of soils modified by human activity, present-day survival of ancient crops, the reconstruction of ancient environments and climates from plant reamins, plant mapping and statistical treatment of data and aerial phytoarchaeology. This book draws upon a wide range of disciplines and is based upon the authors' experience and command of the relevant literature in several languages. Thorough, comprehensive and illustrated, this should prove useful for most practising professional and amateur archaeologists as well as many botanists.