Search

Based on macroremains, we describe three fossil plant assemblages from the Miocene of the Messara Basin (southern Crete) and the adjacent Gavdos Island. The palaeoflora of Kassanoi, which is the oldest (Messara Basin, Viannos Fm, Serravallian/early Tortonian), is documented mainly by leaf imprints, including a fern, a conifer (Tetraclinis cf. salicornioides) and 23 angiosperms. The assemblage is dominated by Daphnogene polymorpha, Podocarpium podocarpum and Myrica lignitum. The plant record from Pitsidia (Messara Basin, Ambelouzos Fm, early Tortonian) comprises thousands of specimens. The plant fossils are preserved as imprints often covered by an inorganic encrustation (replica). One alga, 2 ferns, at least 5 conifers and more than 45 woody angiosperms were identified. Dominant taxa are Myrica and Pinus pitsidiensis, documented by numerous vegetative and reproductive organs (Zidianakis et al., 2015, 2016). Leaves of oaks (Q. pseudocastanea, Q. kubinyii) and Daphogene polymorpha as well as twigs of Taxodium dubium are also fairly common. From the palaeoflora of Metochia, which is the youngest (Gavdos Island, Metochia Fm, middle Tortonian), (Mantzouka et al., 2015), we report further taxa, including Quercus mediterranea, Ziziphus paradisiaca and a palm (Sabalites sp.). The vegetation is assessed both empirically (phytosociologically) and by Integrated Plant Record (IPR) Vegetation Analysis. The reconstructed vegetation models are presented in detail and discussed in the context of the geological and palaeontological settings of the area. The climate is assessed based on the Coexistence Approach (CA) and the Climate Leaf Analysis Multivariate Program (CLAMP). The palaeoclimatic datasets reveal a warm temperate to subtropical climate, probably with a weak seasonal drought.

The Coval Simó shelter provides some of the oldest evidence for settlement on the island of Mallorca and the Balearic archipelago. It also has the peculiarity of being a habitat in a mountain area, so that the human groups that settled there had to adapt their agricultural and farming sys­tem to this environment. The plant remains (wood charcoal and seeds) recovered in the occupation levels allow us to address these issues, since they are the result of the different activities developed in this cavity: fuel for domestic activities, food for livestock, etc. The results of this study show that between the III and II millennium cal BC, an agricultural system based on livestock and cereal farming was implement­ed, which exploited local forest formations to obtain resources, among them, firewood. The plants that were exploit­ed show the existence of juniper forests, with the presence of maples and legumes, among other shrubs and bushes. El Coval Simó constituye una de las evidencias más antiguas de poblamiento en la isla de Mallorca y en el ar­chipiélago balear. Tiene, además, la particularidad de ser un hábitat en zona de montaña, de modo que los grupos huma­nos que se asentaron allí debieron de adaptar su sistema agropecuario y de explotación del entorno a este medio. Los restos vegetales (carbones y semillas) recuperados en los niveles de ocupación del yacimiento permiten aproximarse a estas cuestiones, ya que son resultado de las distintas ac­tividades desarrolladas en esta cavidad: combustible para las actividades domésticas, alimento para el ganado, etc. Los resultados de este estudio muestran que entre el III y II milenio cal BC se implantó un sistema agropecuario basado en la ganadería y en el cultivo de cereales, que realizaba una explotación de las formaciones forestales locales para la ob­tención de recursos, entre ellos, el combustible leñoso. Las formaciones vegetales explotadas remiten a la existencia de bosques de enebros o sabinas, con presencia de arces y ma­torrales de leguminosas, entre otros arbustos y matas.

The Coval Simó shelter provides some of the oldest evidence for settlement on the island of Mallorca and the Balearic archipelago. It also has the peculiarity of being a habitat in a mountain area, so that the human groups that settled there had to adapt their agricultural and farming sys­tem to this environment. The plant remains (wood charcoal and seeds) recovered in the occupation levels allow us to address these issues, since they are the result of the different activities developed in this cavity: fuel for domestic activities, food for livestock, etc. The results of this study show that between the III and II millennium cal BC, an agricultural system based on livestock and cereal farming was implement­ed, which exploited local forest formations to obtain resources, among them, firewood. The plants that were exploit­ed show the existence of juniper forests, with the presence of maples and legumes, among other shrubs and bushes., El Coval Simó constituye una de las evidencias más antiguas de poblamiento en la isla de Mallorca y en el ar­chipiélago balear. Tiene, además, la particularidad de ser un hábitat en zona de montaña, de modo que los grupos huma­nos que se asentaron allí debieron de adaptar su sistema agropecuario y de explotación del entorno a este medio. Los restos vegetales (carbones y semillas) recuperados en los niveles de ocupación del yacimiento permiten aproximarse a estas cuestiones, ya que son resultado de las distintas ac­tividades desarrolladas en esta cavidad: combustible para las actividades domésticas, alimento para el ganado, etc. Los resultados de este estudio muestran que entre el III y II milenio cal BC se implantó un sistema agropecuario basado en la ganadería y en el cultivo de cereales, que realizaba una explotación de las formaciones forestales locales para la ob­tención de recursos, entre ellos, el combustible leñoso. Las formaciones vegetales explotadas remiten a la existencia de bosques de enebros o sabinas, con presencia de arces y ma­torrales de leguminosas, entre otros arbustos y matas.

Orientador: Fresia Soledad Ricardi Torres Branco Tese (doutorado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Instituto de Geociências Resumo: Neste estudo se analisou a composição taxonômica e as características fisionômicas do material foliar de sete amostras de serapilheira da floresta ripária da Estação Ecológica de Mogi Guaçú, Nordeste do estado de São Paulo, assim como de cinco acumulações de macro-restos vegetais que se encontram ao longo de rios meandrantes do Nordeste, Leste e litoral Sul do estado de São Paulo, com a finalidade de se obter novas pautas para a análise e interpretação das associações fósseis de angiospermas. Também se analisou a relação entre a proporção de espécies sem dentes de uma flora e a temperatura média anual (TMA) de um conjunto de 121 localidades da América do Sul, com o objetivo de se obter uma nova equação baseada na Análise da Margem Foliar para a região. Ao analisar o material foliar das amostras de serapilheira observamos que a relação entre o número de espécies e de folhas/folíolos, assim como a composição florística, depende da localidade, do habitat e da dispersão produzida pelo vento. Deste material foliar 60-95% pertence a 2-3 espécies arbóreas. A maior parte das espécies identificadas pertence às famílias Bignoniaceae, Euphorbiaceae, Fabaceae, Myrtaceae e Sapindaceae. Das espécies identificadas 55-70% são arbóreas e o 20-40% restante são trepadeiras, as quais representam 8-35% da riqueza total de espécies arbóreas e 5-32% da riqueza total de espécies de trepadeiras da área. As principais características fisionômicas do material foliar nos permitiram estimar a TMA e a precipitação média anual (PMA). Os valores da TMA obtidos subestimaram o valor real em 0.8-1.8 °C e o superestimaram em 1.5-4.8 °C, e os valores da PMA obtidos subestimaram o valor real em 11-188 mm e o superestimaram em 44-83 mm. As acumulações de macro-restos vegetais estudadas podem ser consideradas um registro de alta resolução de El Niño. O material foliar que está presente nestas acumulações depende da localidade, do habitat, e do transporte produzido pelo vento e pela água. Deste material foliar 70-85% pertence a 2-3 espécies arbóreas. A maior parte das espécies identificadas pertence às famílias Bignoniaceae, Fabaceae e Sapindaceae. Das espécies identificadas 70% são arbóreas e o 30% restante são trepadeiras, as quais representam 25-35% da riqueza total de espécies arbóreas e 23-32% da riqueza total de espécies de trepadeiras da área. As principais características fisionômicas deste material foliar permitiram estimar a TMA e a PMA para o momento de sua deposição. Os valores da TMA obtidos subestimaram o valor real em 0.5-1.3 °C e o superestimaram em 2.2 °C, e os valores da PMA obtidos subestimaram o valor real em 332-1070 mm. A análise da relação entre a proporção de espécies sem dentes e a TMA de um conjunto de 121 localidades da América do Sul nos permitiu gerar uma nova equação de regressão linear, baseada na Análise da Margem Foliar, mais apta para a reconstrução da TMA de floras fósseis cenozoicas da região Abstract: In this study, we analyzed the taxonomic composition and physiognomic features of the leaf material of seven samples of leaf litter of the riparian forest of Mogi Guaçu Ecological Station, Northeastern of the Sao Paulo State, Brazil, as well as five accumulations of plant macroremains that are found along meandering rivers of the Northeastern, Eastern and the South coastline of Sao Paulo State, with the purpose of obtaining new guidelines for the analysis and interpretation of the fossil associations angiosperms. We also analyzed the relationship in between the proportion of the untoothed species of a flora and the mean annual temperature (MAT) of a dataset of 121 localities the South America, in attempt to establishing a new equation based on the Leaf Margin Analysis for the whole region. When analyzing the foliar material from the leaf litter, we observed that the relationship in between the number of species and the number of leaves/leaflets, as well as the floristic composition, depends on the locality, habitat and wind-induced dispersion. The 60-95% of these leaf material belongs to 2-3 tree species. Most of the identified species belongs to the Bignoniaceae, Euphorbiaceae, Fabaceae, Myrtaceae and Sapindaceae families. The 55-70% of the identified species are from trees and the remaining 20-40% are climbing species. These species represent a 8-35% of all tree species richness and a 5-32% of all climbing species richness of the área. The main physiognomic features of the leaf material allowed us to estimate the MAT and the mean annual precipitation (MAP). The obtained MAT values underestimated the real value in 0.8-1.8 °C and overestimated in 1.5-4.8 °C, and the obtained MAP values underestimated the real value in 11-188 mm and overestimated in 44-83 mm. The accumulations of plant macroremains studied can be considered a high-resolution record of the El Niño. The leaf material that is present in these accumulations depends on the locality, habitat and transport produced by wind and water. The 70-85% of this leaf material belongs to 2-3 tree species. Most of them are identified as part of the Bignoniaceae, Fabaceae and Sapindaceae families. The 70% of the identified species are from tree and the remaining 30% are climbing species. These species represent a 25-35% of all tree species richness and a 23-32% of all climbing species richness of the área. The main physiognomic features of the leaf material allowed estimation of the MAT and MAP at the moment of deposition. The obtained AMT values underestimated the real value in 0.5-1.3 °C and overestimated the real value in 2.2 °C, and the obtained values of MAP underestimated the real value in 332-1070mm. The relationship analysis in between the proportion of the untoothed species and the MAT of a dataset of 121 localities the South America allowed us to create a new linear regression equation based on the Leaf Margin Analysis, more robust to reconstruct the MAT of Cenozoic fossil flora of the region Doutorado Geologia e Recursos Naturais Doutor em Ciências CAPES FAPESP 2010/20379-6, 2013/22729-2 FAEPEX

Archaeobotanical data are often a mixture of material of different origins. The formation process of archaeobotanical records can often be different. Hence it is important to understand the structure of these fossil records before the data are used for various reconstructions and interpretations. The aim of my diploma thesis is to identify the taphonomic causes of differences between synanthropic species from different archaeological sites using plant traits. The greatest differences between sets of species in archaeobotanical situations are due to the way of preservation, ie. between charred and non-charred (waterlogged) macro-remains. My diploma thesis is based on data from the Archaeobotanical database of the Czech Republic. I focused on the Middle Ages, which is the best period in terms of the number of species and the number of sites. Using multidimensional analyses, I examined the structure of archaeobotanical data and then selected a relevant dataset to examine the differences in species composition between different types of conservation. After that I correlated the results with the species traits. I found that the structure of archaeobotanical data is very heterogeneous. In each of the two types of conservation, different species are preserved. These species are characterized by a...

Introducción y objetivos: El sitio arqueológico Cueva Salamanca 1 (CS1), Antofagasta de la Sierra (Catamarca, Argentina), está relacionado a las asociaciones vegetales pajonal, tolar y vega y fue habitado por grupos cazadores-recolectores (ca. 10.000 - 6.000 años AP). Se estudian los restos vegetales recuperados del sitio CS1, con el fin de determinar las condiciones paleoambientales que se sucedieron durante el Holoceno, las cuales determinaron el uso y la explotación específica de diferentes asociaciones vegetales por parte de grupos humanos que lo habitaban. M&M: Los macrorrestos vegetales recuperados fueron analizados con microscopía y mediante comparaciones morfológicas con las especies de la flora actual circundante al sitio. Resultados: De las 60 especies vegetales que crecen en el ambiente actual relacionado al sitio CS1, 44 % están representadas en los macrorrestos recuperados, tanto herbáceos como leñosos no carbonizados y carbonizados, pertenecientes a las familias Asteraceae, Brassicaceae, Cactaceae, Caryophyllaceae, Chenopodiaceae, Ephedraceae, Fabaceae, Malvaceae, Poaceae, Solanaceae y Verbenaceae. Se observa un mayor uso del tolar, seguido por el pajonal y la vega durante toda la secuencia, considerando las especies que crecen en un radio de 30 km a partir del sitio. Conclusiones: Los grupos humanos que habitaron CS1, durante el Holoceno Medio temprano, Medio tardío y Tardío, han efectuado una ocupación efectiva y conocían e identificaban las distintas especies vegetales para ser explotadas como combustible, confección de tecnofacturas y camadas de descanso. Las adaptaciones morfológicas y anatómicas observadas en las especies halladas reflejan las condiciones del paleoambiente durante el Holoceno Background and aims: The archaeological site Cueva Salamanca 1 (CS1), Antofagasta de la Sierra (Catamarca, Argentina), is related to the grassland, tolar and lowland plant associations and was inhabited by hunter-gatherer groups (ca. 10,000 - 6,000 years BP). The plant remains recovered from the CS1 site are studied in order to determine the palaeoenvironmental conditions that occurred during the Holocene, which determined the use and specific exploitation of different plant associations by human groups that inhabited the site. M&M: The plant macroremains recovered from CS1 were analysed with microscopy and by morphological comparisons with the species of the current flora surrounding the site. Results: Of the 60 plant species that grow in the current environment related to the CS1 archaeological site, 44% are represented in the recovered, both herbaceous and woody charred and non-charred, belonging to the families Asteraceae, Brassicaceae, Cactaceae, Caryophyllaceae, Chenopodiaceae, Ephedraceae, Fabaceae, Malvaceae, Poaceae, Solanaceae and Verbenaceae. A greater use of the tolar is observed, followed by the grassland and the lowland during the whole sequence, considering the species that grow in a radius of 30 km from the site. Conclusions: The human groups that inhabited CS1, during the Holocene Early Middle, Late Middle and Late, have made an effective occupation and knew and identified the different plant species to be exploited as fuel, preparation of manufactures and resting litters. The morphological and anatomical adaptations observed in the species found reflect the conditions of the paleoenvironment during the Holocene Fil: Apóstolo, Nancy Mariel. Universidad Nacional de Luján; Argentina Fil: Rodríguez, María Fernanda. Secretaría de Cultura de la Nación. Dirección Nacional de Cultura y Museos. Instituto Nacional de Antropología y Pensamiento Latinoamericano; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina Fil: Pintar, Elizabeth Lucia. Austin Community College; Estados Unidos

The methods and criteria used for the identification of bryophytes from the peat deposits of four ombrotrophic mires in northern Spain are presented. Two liverworts and fifteen moss taxa were recorded. Twelve were identified to species level, two to genus level (Polytrichum sp., Campylopus sp.) and another to section level (Sphagnum sect. Acutifolia). All taxa were identified from their vegetative remains, mainly leaves. Only sporangia of Sphagnum species were recorded. Descriptions of the most relevant characters for taxa identifications are shown, accompanied by illustrations that facilitate their interpretation. A dichotomous identification key is also provided.

International audience; This article presents the archaeobotanical study of Taï, a Neolithic settlement located in Languedoc, southern France. In the western Mediterranean, the Neolithization process occurred during the 6th millennium BC and is supposed to have induced a fundamental change in the subsistence economy, with the development of agriculture and animal husbandry. Unfortunately, the Neolithic farming economy is still poorly known in southern France, mostly from old archaeobotanical studies. At Taï, soil flotation of 127 samples provided the largest dataset available for the Early Neolithic in southern France, which testifies to the changes occurring in cultivated plants and in the subsistence economy during the Neolithic. Sampling also allowed comparisons between the archaeobotanical record inside the cave and from the outside settlement. Naked barley and naked wheat were the most cultivated plants throughout the Neolithic sequence. The contribution of emmer and the probable use of opium poppy during the Early Neolithic should also be highlighted. This encourages us to reconsider the role of glume wheats during the early stages of agriculture in the area. Einkorn was more common in the Late Neolithic, in agreement with results from other sites in the region. Chaff remains were always underrepresented. Remains of weeds and wild fruits were very abundant in the Early Neolithic samples from the cave. Wild plants were probably brought to the site for the tending of domestic animals or by the animals themselves (dung, fodder and/or litter). Livestock was most probably occasionally kept at the site.

Research in the Domuraty 2 section was focused on a series of lacustrine-river-swamp deposits in which the full spectrum of vegetation and climate changes was recognised in a detailed analysis of plant macroremains and a comparison with the results of pollen analysis. Based on plant macrofossil data, two (Dom II, Dom III) of three palynologically documented warm units were distinguished in the Domuraty succession. The palaeobotanical data from the Domuraty succession document several successive local vegetation changes in both interglacial and glacial periods, which can be related to global climate oscillations. The succession of local vegetation stands and changes in the vegetation, climate, water level, and trophy during the period of the Domuraty succession were analysed and compared with corresponding parameters of the Augustovian and Ferdynandovian interglacials. The taxonomically most diverse unit is Warm unit Dom II, with the highest share of taxa with high thermal requirements, which was compared to the older Augustovian (A II) and younger Ferdynandovian (F II) units. The comparison of the Domuratovian interglacial flora to that of the Korchevian interglacial in Belarus shows high similarity; most of the extinct taxa or taxa unknown in the present-day flora are common to the Korchevian and Domuratovian floras, suggesting similar age for these two communities. However, the Domuratovian flora lacks a few species important to the Korchevian flora, such as Stratiotes goretskyi, Carex rostrata-pliocenica, Brasenia sp., Caulinia antiqua, Aldrovanda borysthenica, and A. zusii.

Early Middle Pleistocene palaeolacustrine sediments of the Ferdynandów site (E Poland), serving as a stratotype for the Ferdynandovian interglacial, were subjected to a new drilling in 2011. The obtained profile, covering the late Sanian 1 glaciation, two interglacial successions (Ferdynandovian 1 and 2), the cold Ferdynandovian 1/2 interval, and the early Sanian 2 glaciation, permitted a high-resolution plant macroremains analysis, correlated with the results of a palynological examination. In detailed studies of plant macroremains from the profile, new taxa were discovered for the Polish Pleistocene flora: specifically, species that are extinct or not found nowadays in Poland. On the basis of the taxonomic diversity and occurrence of bioindicators, the division into warm and cold units of the Ferdynandovian interglacial as well as units associated with the Sanian 1 and 2 glaciations, already applied in pollen studies, were confirmed, and the periods were described in terms of plant macroremains. The Ferdynandovian succession is correlated with the Cromerian Complex (Cromerian III and IV) in the Early Middle Pleistocene of Western Europe, as well as with Marine Isotope Stages (MIS) 13-15. New geological and palaeobotanical data enabled a description of the palaeogeographic context and conditions of functioning, as well as the evolution of the interglacial lake at the stratotype site. The outcome of plant macroremains analysis is presented and interpreted in comparison with corresponding results previously obtained for the Ferdynandów B profile, studied by Janczyk-Kopikowa (1975). Particular consideration is given to similarities between the succession of Ferdynandów 2011 and the profiles of Ferdynandów B and the nearby drilled Łuków 3A. Study of the macrofossil flora of Ferdynandów 2011 revealed the presence of species absent in the archival Ferdynandów B. Taxa not formerly recorded in early Middle Pleistocene floras, such as Brasenia borysthenica, Aldrovanda borysthenica, Pilularia borysthenica, Caulinia goretskyi, and Potamogeton saryanensis, were identified. These species and other taxa of stratigraphic or climatic significance provided the basis for a more detailed description of the Ferdynandovian flora, afterwards compared with other stratigraphically corresponding Polish and European early Middle Pleistocene floras. The composition of characteristic taxa also was used for comparisons between two bimodal interglacial sequences, namely the Ferdynandovian (correlated with MIS 13-15) and Augustovian (correlated with MIS 19-21), and the Domuratovian succession (correlated with MIS 17).

El presente trabajo es la primera aproximación al estudio de macrorrestos botánicos en el sitio Los Tres Cerros 1 (isla Las Moras, Victoria, Entre Ríos). Estos restos fueron recuperados mediante la técnica de flotación manual. A partir del material extraído, se exploró el rol de los recursos vegetales y su importancia en la subsistencia en los grupos humanos que habitaron el Delta Superior del río Paraná durante el Holoceno tardío. Se identificaron cinco familias: Solanaceae, Chenopodiaceae, Polygonaceae, Poaceae (Maideae y Oryzoideae) y Amaranthaceae. Los estudios permitieron estimar que a partir de 700 ARCP hubo un incremento en la abundancia y variabilidad de recursos vegetales utilizados con respecto a períodos anteriores. La presencia de elementos oryzoides, y graminoides (específicamente Maideae) evidenció la existencia de vegetales silvestres y domesticados, aportando nuevos registros sobre el aprovechamiento, manejo y cultivo de las plantas en el área de estudio en el Holoceno tardío. Abstract This paper entails the first approach to macrobotanical remains obtained from Los Tres Cerros 1 (Isla Las Moras, Victoria, Entre Ríos). The remains were recovered by means of manual flotation technique. The extracted material allowed us to explore the role played by vegetable resources role and their importance to the subsistence of human populations of Upper Paraná Delta during the late Holocene. Five botanical families were recognized: Solanaceae, Chenopodiaceae, Polygonaceae, Poaceae (Maideae and Ehrhartoideae) and Amaranthaceae. Studies estimate that from 700 RCYBP, there was an increase in the abundance and variability of plant resources used, as compared to previous periods. The presence of oryzoides and graminoid elements (specifically Maideae) showed the presence of wild and domesticated plants, providing new records on the use of plants in the area studied, in the late Holocene.

International audience; This paper presents the archaeobotanical study of several Neolithic settlements located in the Valais, the upper part of the Rhone Valley, in Switzerland. The archaeological sites are dated between 5000 and 4200 cal bc, which corresponds to the Early and the Middle Neolithic. Most of the sites are situated around 500–600 m, overhanging the alluvial plain of the Rhone. First results of the macroremains analysis show that cereals, comprising mainly naked wheat (Triticum aestivum s.l./durum/turgidum) and barley (Hordeum distichum/vulgare), are predominant. In addition, pea (Pisum sativum) and opium poppy (Papaver somniferum) are recorded. Gathered plants are sparse, and this from the first establishment of farmers around 5000 cal bc. If we compare the obtained results with data from the Northern French Alps, not far from the Valais, we get a completely different picture of the Neolithic plant economy. In the northern French Alps the communities exploited all vegetation levels from the collinean to the subalpine belt, gathered plants playing an important role alongside the cultivated species. Our first results are giving a new insight into the first agro-pastoral communities in the Swiss Alps; they are allowing us to understand how plant resources were exploited in a mountainous context and to outline the catchment area of the settlements.

The present paper aims to show the importance of analyzing plant macroremains from urban excavations. Organic materials preserved below the historical city in waterlogged conditions are a fundamental resource, and the study of seeds and fruits gives a good contribution to historical and archaeological research. Archaeobotany in urban contexts provides important results when the examined material comes from several excavations that "photograph" the territory over quite a long period. An overview of archaeobotanical analyses carried out on material from archaeological sites of Modena (Emilia-Romagna), from the 2nd century BC to the 6th century AD, made by the Laboratory of Palynology and Palaeobotany of the University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, is presented. The floristic list of seed/fruit analyses result is reported and interesting subject matters are tackled concerning both cultivated/cultivable plants (fruits and nuts, vegetables/aromatics/spices/medicinal plants, fibre and oil plants, cereals and pulses, flowers and other ornamental plants) and wild plants of no obvious use, together with wetland plants which are rare and endangered species in Emilia-Romagna today.

Paco dos Lobos da Gama is a seventeenth-century manor house, built by the Lobos da Gama family. It’s located in the city center of Evora in Rua Serpa Pinto. In 2008 the area was subjected to a rescue archaeological excavation, which continued during the following year. The interventions focused mainly on the backyard behind the property. The area 6 revealed an important set of archaeological remains dated from the 1st to 2nd centuries AD until the end of the Modern times, with special emphasis on the Islamic period. The plants macro remains, which are main subjects of this study, come exclusively from Islamic contexts. The archaeological contexts investigated, except for one unit, belong to negative structures. Among all, the septic tank was particularly rich in mineralized seeds and fruits, mostly belonging to fruit trees/shrubs. This study is intended to characterize the use and consumption of plant foods by the Islamic community living in the area. It also seeks to better understand the structural contexts in which the samples were collected. The aspects related to the exploitation of the wood resources, as well as those of the site, are also discussed. The study is still ongoing, and only some preliminary results are presented here.

Los frutos de Prosopis spp. son una importante fuente de alimento tanto para los humanos como para los animales debido a su alto valor nutricional, cuyos componentes clave se encuentran distribuidos en el fruto. Mientras que los carbohidratos se presentan en el mesocarpo, las proteínas se encuentran en las semillas, lo que hace más difícil su extracción. Esto plantea la posibilidad de que las diferencias en los costos de procesamiento tengan que ver con el uso de la semilla del algarrobo descripto etnográficamente. En este trabajo presentamos los resultados de una serie de experimentos de recolección y molienda realizados con manos y molinos tradicionales con el fin de evaluar el aporte nutricional y los costos asociados con la intensificación en el procesamiento de vainas de algarroba. Observamos que mientras se intensifica el procesamiento obtenemos una mayor cantidad de proteínas en la harina de algarrobo debido a la incorporación de las semillas; sin embargo, las diferencias en el aporte nutricional son mínimas, el valor energético total se mantiene igual y los altos costos adicionales de procesamiento reducen la tasa de retorno energético. Estos resultados sugieren que, en la mayoría de los casos, el procesamiento del algarrobo se hace principalmente para extraer los hidratos de carbono. Asimismo, comparamos los residuos de la molienda experimental con los macrorrestos vegetales de sitios arqueológicos del sur de la provincia de Mendoza, los cuales sugieren patrones similares de procesamiento. Esto permite establecer un origen antropogénico y no natural para los restos recuperados.Mesquite fruits Prosopis spp. are an important food resource for both humans and animals due to their high nutritional value, but key dietary components are unevenly distributed within the fruit. While carbohydrates occur in the soft, outer mesocarpo, proteins are found in the much harder seeds. This raises the potential for differences in processing costs, and may explain variation in the use of mesquite seeds described ethnographically. Here we report the results of a series of processing experiments that evaluate the nutritional value and time costs associated with increasing levels of mesquite processing (gathering and grounding) using traditional manos and metates. We show that while additional processing does lead to more protein in mesquite flour as seeds are broken down, differences in nutritional value are minimal, overall energetic value remains the same, and the high additional processing costs reduce energetic return rates. These results suggest that under most circumstances mesquite processed using these technologies would be done mostly to extract the carbohydrates. A comparison of residual plant parts from these experiments with similar plant macrofossils from regional archaeological sites suggest similar patterns of processing in the past, with an anthropogenic rather than natural origin for the recovered remains.

In this thesis, plant exploitation activities in Atlantic Iberia during the Early and Middle Holocene have been approached through the study of non-woody plant macroremain assemblages at Mesolithic and Neolithic archaeological sites in the Cantabrian region and Portugal. Little direct information was previously available; this thesis therefore contributes to the enrichment of current knowledge about the Cantabrian region and offers completely unprecedented data for Portugal, critical for the understanding of past human culture and essential for the comprehension of the different Neolithisation processes. The new archaeobotanical data shed light on the dynamics of the exploitation of plant resources, particularly regarding the phenomenon of the transition from wild resource gathering to domestic agriculture. A wide spectrum of wild resources and the earliest crops in Portugal, with an extensive range of cereals and possibly legumes, have been attested. RESUMEN: En este trabajo se ha estudiado la explotación de los recursos vegetales en la costa atlántica ibérica durante el Holoceno Inicial y Medio, a partir del estudio de restos carpológicos de yacimientos arqueológicos mesolíticos y neolíticos de la región Cantábrica y Portugal. La información previa disponible era muy limitada; esta tesis contribuye al enriquecimiento del conocimiento sobre la región Cantábrica y ofrece datos hasta ahora únicos para Portugal, para la comprensión de las culturas del pasado y de los diferentes procesos de neolitización. Los nuevos datos arqueobotánicos arrojan luz sobre las dinámicas de explotación de los recursos vegetales por las sociedades del pasado, y en particular en el marco de la transición de la recolección de recursos silvestres a la agricultura de domésticos. Se ha documentado un amplio espectro de recursos silvestres, y los primeros cultivos de Portugal, formados por diversos cereales y posiblemente leguminosas. Esta tesis se divide en cinco partes; además del índice general, cada parte tiene su propio índice. En la primera parte (Part I: Framework) se revisa el marco general de este trabajo, considerando las cuestiones teóricas, medioambientales, sociales e históricas. En primer lugar, se revisan los conceptos clave y las explicaciones sobre los procesos de domesticación y neolitización. A continuación, se describe el marco físico en que se enmarca el problema histórico estudiado, así como sus características socioeconómicas, particularmente al respecto de la explotación de recursos vegetales. Después, presenta el estado de la cuestión por región y método. A continuación, se plantean los objetivos a las que se enfrenta el autor en este trabajo y finalmente, se presentan los contextos estudiados ordenados por región y cronología. Los restos materiales estudiados en este trabajo son un tipo de restos de plantas conocidos como carporrestos (frutos y semillas), con un potencial y unas limitaciones que se debaten de forma extensa en el capítulo metodológico sobre arqueobotánica (Part II: Methods), junto con otros métodos utilizados para la elaboración del estado de la cuestión. Los resultados del estudio material se presentan en la tercera parte: la primera sección (Part III A: Results: the identified taxa) presenta la descripción de las características de los taxones identificados en todos los sitios estudiados; la segunda parte (Part III B: Results: the studied contexts) incluye la presentación detallada de los conjuntos carpológicos contexto por contexto. En la cuarta parte (Part IV: Discussion and conclusions), se ponen en relación los datos obtenidos aquí con los datos disponibles hasta el momento de realización de este trabajo y se discute su contribución a completar el estado del conocimiento para los periodos y regiones estudiadas. Finalmente, se presentan las conclusiones. Finalmente (Appendixes and references), se cita la lista de referencias utilizadas durante el desarrollo de este trabajo, junto con los programas informáticos utilizados y las fuentes de material vegetal donado por distintas instituciones, que han sido cruciales en la creación de la nueva colección. La mayor parte de esta tesis (2009-2013) ha sido desarollada gracias a la concesión de una becacontrato por la Universidad de Cantabria. Esta tesis se enmarca en los siguientes proyectos de investigación financiados por el Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad: • Coordinado “La implantación de las especies domésticas en la Europa atlántica” (DOMATLAN) (HAR2008-06477-C03-00/HIST) (I.P.: Pablo Arias), subproyecto 1: “La implantación de las especies domésticas en la Europa atlántica: Cronología e impacto en la dieta humana” (DOMATLANTICA) (HAR2008-06477-C03-01/HIST; • “Coastal transitions: A comparative approach to the processes of neolithisation in Atlantic Europe ” (COASTTRAN) (HAR2011-29907-C03-01/HIST) (I.P.: Pablo Arias), subproyecto 1: “From shell middens to crop fields: The transition to the Neolithic in the coastal regions of SW Europe”; • “Coastal societies in a changing world: A diachronic and comparative approach to the Prehistory of SW Europe from the late Palaeolithic to the Neolithic" (COCHANGE) (HAR2014-51830-P) (I.P.: Pablo Arias).

International audience; The present study is a review of the archaeobotanical analyses carried out in the last decade at the three ancient Roman port/dock system sites of Pisae, Portus, and Neapolis. Pollen, plant macrofossils (leaf, wood, seed/fruit macroremains) and wood constituting the shipwrecks were considered, and the results, partly unpublished, integrated and interpreted. Waterlogged sediments from these port areas turned out to be particularly suited for archaeobotanical analysis and opened new perspectives in ancient harbour studies. This is the first time that a synthesis of archaeobotanical data from Italian archaeological sites of the same typology is attempted for the Roman period. The disparate sampling strategies and available materials for macrofossil analysis in the various sites – cores in Portus, short sediment sequences in Pisae, and single visible hand-collected macroremains in Neapolis – conditioned the results obtained for these remains, making the comparison among sites a particularly difficult task. The urgency of establishing a common protocol between archaeologists and archaeobotanists is thus emphasized. The plant micro-and macrofossils highlight that in Roman times the landscape of the Italian coasts between Pisa and Naples was formed by deciduous oak plain forests (whose relicts are preserved in some protected areas, like in Parco Nazionale del Circeo, south of Rome and along the coast of the Pisan plain, in the Migliarino San Rossore Regional Park) with prevalence of mesophilous elements. The Mediterranean vegetation was not widespread as expected and maquis was limited to small areas by the coast. Surprisingly, mountain elements such as beech and silver fir were not so rare in pre-Roman times, suggesting that these trees could have occupied wider areas than at present. Besides food plant remains typical of the Roman age, the port sediments also preserved seeds, fruits and leaves of the wild vegetation. Comparing the results obtained by palynology with the shipwreck wood study showed that the boats were prevailingly built with local timber, often with conifers. The use of silver fir, though never very frequent, still confirms the preference of shipbuilders for this timber, which was not always available in the close surroundings of the three sites.

International audience; Recent excavation at the site of Chobareti (1615 m a.s.l., South Caucasus Mountains) reveals an important Kura-Araxes settlement and eleven burials so far, for which a first multi-proxies approach was conducted to understand both exploitation of plants and human dietary practices in this mountainous area. Thanks to the excavation of several pits, in 2011, a well-reasoned sampling for archaeobotanical analysis, including phytoliths, pollen and non-pollen palynomorphs, charcoal, seeds and other plant macroremains was undertaken. In parallel, human, animal bones and wheat seeds were recovered in order to perform stable isotope analysis (δ13C, δ15N). Results show the strong presence of cereals (especially naked wheat, as a hexaploid form, and emmer), highlighting the role played by cereal growing in the Kura-Araxes farming activities. Plant macroremains, but also phytoliths recovered in pits, reflect processing activities on the site. While animal dung seems to have been used to enhance cereal yields, different herding practices can be suggested by δ15N values. Whereas δ13C values and archaeobotanical data agree for a consumption of C3 plants, with no significant input in wheat for both animals and humans, a homogeneous mixed diet, with a great contribution of animal protein source (meat, secondary products) has been observed.

Le Tell Aswad, à Bosra, désigne une importante accumulation de couches cendreuses située à l’ouest et au sud de l’amphithéâtre, datée entre le iie et le ive siècles ap. J.-C. et dont l’origine et la fonction sont mal comprises. Durant la fouille de la zone, conduite en 2008, les macrorestes végétaux brûlés – graines, fruits et charbons de bois – contenus dans le sédiment ont été récupérés afin de voir quelles informations sur la zone de fouille et sur la ville ils pouvaient apporter. L’identification taxonomique de ces éléments végétaux, constitués en grande partie de plantes cultivées – céréales, légumineuses et fruitiers – et dans une moindre mesure de taxons sauvages, apporte un éclairage nouveau sur la gestion des productions végétales et du combustible à Bosra à l’époque romaine tardive. Les végétaux ont pour la plupart une origine locale, mais proviennent également de zones plus éloignées de Syrie du Sud. La grande quantité de végétaux brûlés retrouvés, et leur homogénéité sur l’ensemble de la stratigraphie fouillée, témoignent de pratiques intensives de combustion dont l’origine est discutée. Tell Aswad is an important accumulation of ashy layers located west and south of the amphitheater of Bosra and dated between the 2nd and 4th centuries A.D. Its origin and function are poorly understood. During the excavation of the area, conducted in 2008, sédiment charred plant macroremains – seeds, fruits and charcoals – were recovered. Taxonomic identifications of these plants allow recognizing various crops – cereals, pulses and fruits – and wild taxa and bring a new light on the management of crops and fuel in Bosra. The plants mostly grew in and around the city, but some of them came from others places in Southern Syria. The great quantity of charred plant and their homogeneity underline intensive combustion practices whose origin is discussed.

The palynologic study of several boreholes for lignite prospection at the "Vale de Santarém sands" is presented. Height spores and 18 pollen forms have been identified. The quantitative and qualitative results are shown in table 2. Four palynologic associations (A - D) corresponding to climatic changes have been characterized. Correlations are established with the plant associations of Rio Maior Basin. Correlation between the boreholes allow a better understanding of the small, Vale de Santarém basin infilling.

Mem. Acad. Ciências Lisboa, Classe Ciências, XXXVII: 25-47 General characterization of the Triassic and Jurassic environments as well as list of localities and taxa of plant macroremains of Portugal are presented. Cycadophytes and conifers, mainly from the Cheirolepidiaceae family, predominate. No recent studies have been carried out, the latest date from the 70's. Systematic position of some taxa is uncertain. A deep review is needed. The Upper Jurassic portuguese plant macroremains suggest warm and dry climates The commonest forms (Otozamites, Cupressinocladus) show thick cuticles and strongly protected stomata. Ferns are rather scarce and the pinnules are smaller than those of homologous forms of other regions i e. in Yorkshire (U.K.).

The analysis of phytoliths, pollen, charcoal and other macroremains was carried out in the neolithic shelter of ‘‘La Grande Rivoire'', Vercors massif (French Alps). The results show the predominance of tree species, in the form of phytoliths, clustered pollen, stomata, small branches charcoal, needles, bark, buds. The practice of leaf fodder is already known in the alpine and circum-alpine area from archaeological and historical sources. The analyses of the neolithic dung levels of ‘‘La Grande Rivoire'' illustrate the use of leafy and flowering tree branches as fodder. The results also suggest that some species were used for special purpose in relation with the tending of livestock (litter, dietary supplement, veterinary practices).

The research focused on brackish marsh soils located within the coastal zone of Puck Lagoon (the Beka botanical and ornithological nature reserve). They are characterised by the presence of layers rich with allochthonous organic matter, derived from washing out of peat deposits. The objective of the research was to determine sedimentary environments of the soil organic matter based on selected properties. The obtained results indicated that despite similar morphological characteristics, these soils might have developed in slightly different environmental conditions, determined mostly by the Baltic water levels and morphology of the coast. The organic matter of the studied soils was characterised by relatively low aromaticity, which may indicate the ongoing process of decomposition. The presence of both peat-bog, rush and ruderal plants, as well as trees in the species composition of macroremains proved the heterogeneity of sedimentary environments and confirmed the allochthonous origin of organic matter accumulated in the studied brackish marsh soils.

Palaeobotanical investigations were carried out with the aim of reconstructing the development of palaeovegetation and formation of sediments in the northeastern area of ancient Lake Burtnieks. Pollen and plant macroremain studies provide information on vegetation development in the surroundings of the lake, including Stone Age settlements of Braukšas I and Braukšas II. Results of the investigations indicate that the development of vegetation together with sedimentation conditions in the palaeolake have changed since the Younger Dryas until today. Vegetation composition varies in different parts of the ancient Lake Burtnieks area due to past changes in lake water level which reached different sites at different times. Data from the northern part of ancient Lake Burtnieks indicate its gradual overgrowing since the Preboreal. Deposition of minerogenic lacustrine sediments (silt, clayey silt and sand) lasted until the Boreal or the Atlantic time, depending on the water depth of the lake locality. Clastic sediments were overlain by gyttja, which in turn was later covered by well-decomposed fen (sedge, sedge–grass) peat that started to form at the end of Atlantic time. Pollen and plant macroremain composition of lacustrine sediments and fen peat sequences suggests that people have inhabited the area since Preboreal–Boreal times. However, weak traces of possible presence of people are found already at the very end of the Younger Dryas.Fluctuating curves of broadleaved tree pollen, a significant amount of pollen of cultivated plants and charcoal dust in sediments indicate activities of an early man and refer to start of crop growing in the area in the second half of the Atlantic chronozone.

Several major cereal groups have been identified as staples used by the pre-urban, urban and post-urban phase populations of the Indus Civilisation (3200–1500 BCE): wheat, barley, a range of small hulled millets and also rice, though their proportional exploitation is variable across space and over time. Traditional quantification methods examine the frequency, intensity and proportionality of the use of these crops and help ascertain the ‘relative importance’ of these cereals for Indus populations. However, this notion of ‘importance’ is abstracted from the daily lives of the people using these crops and may be biased by the differential production (as well as archaeological survival) of individual cereals. This paper outlines an alternative approach to quantifying Indus cereals by investigating proportions of calories. Cereals are predominantly composed of carbohydrates and therefore provided much of the daily caloric intake among many late Holocene farming populations. The four major cereal groups cultivated by Indus farmers, however, vary greatly in terms of calories per grain, and this has an impact on their proportional input to past diets. This paper demonstrates that, when converted to proportions of calories, the perceived ‘importance’ of cereals from five Indus sites changes dramatically, reducing the role of the previously dominant small hulled millet species and elevating the role of Triticoid grains. Although other factors will also have affected how a farmer perceived the role and importance of a crop, including its ecological tolerances, investments required to grow it, and the crop’s role in the economy, this papers suggests that some consideration of what cereals meant in terms of daily lives is needed alongside the more abstracted quantification methods that have traditionally been applied.

A long-lived Anatolian archaeological site (Arslantepe, Malatya plain) was investigated under a palaeoclimate perspective. Identified plant charred macroremains underwent an isotopic analysis to determine carbon isotope composition. The results obtained are used to assess the degree of climate changes in the site and its surroundings.

Several major cereal groups have been identified as staples used by the pre-urban, urban and post-urban phase populations of the Indus Civilisation (3200–1500 BCE): wheat, barley, a range of small hulled millets and also rice, though their proportional exploitation is variable across space and over time. Traditional quantification methods examine the frequency, intensity and proportionality of the use of these crops and help ascertain the ‘relative importance’ of these cereals for Indus populations. However, this notion of ‘importance’ is abstracted from the daily lives of the people using these crops and may be biased by the differential production (as well as archaeological survival) of individual cereals. This paper outlines an alternative approach to quantifying Indus cereals by investigating proportions of calories. Cereals are predominantly composed of carbohydrates and therefore provided much of the daily caloric intake among many late Holocene farming populations. The four major cereal groups cultivated by Indus farmers, however, vary greatly in terms of calories per grain, and this has an impact on their proportional input to past diets. This paper demonstrates that, when converted to proportions of calories, the perceived ‘importance’ of cereals from five Indus sites changes dramatically, reducing the role of the previously dominant small hulled millet species and elevating the role of Triticoid grains. Although other factors will also have affected how a farmer perceived the role and importance of a crop, including its ecological tolerances, investments required to grow it, and the crop’s role in the economy, this papers suggests that some consideration of what cereals meant in terms of daily lives is needed alongside the more abstracted quantification methods that have traditionally been applied.

Stanowisko w Witowie, położone ok. 50 kilometrów na północny wschód od Krakowa, jest znane z odsłonięcia osadów określanych mianem serii witowskiej. Były one przedmiotem badań paleobotanicznych, paleozoologicznych, sedymentologicznych i petrograficznych. W osadach serii witowskiej znaleziono oznaczalne makroszczątki roślin iglastych i okrytozalążkowych. Szczególnie interesujące są kopalne gatunki Pinus cf. palaeostrobus, Zelkova zelkovifolia i Spirematospermum wetzleri. Wyniki badań szczątków roślinnych wskazują na późnomioceński lub plioceński wiek serii witowskiej. Kopalne zbiorowiska roślinne, które występowały w okolicy Witowa można porównać do współczesnych podzwrotnikowych lasów wilgotnych obszaru Kolchidy i Niziny Tałyskiej na Zakaukaziu oraz środkowych Chin. Obecność szczątków roślinności ciepłolubnej wskazuje na cieplejszy niż obecnie klimat okresu sedymentacji serii witowskiej. Witów jest znany także ze stanowisk archeologicznych. Obszar ten od neolitu był wielokrotnie zasiedlany. Ślady najintensywniejszego osadnictwa pochodzą z końca epoki brązu i początków epoki żelaza (1000-600 BC) i są odnoszone do kultury łużyckiej. Na stanowisku w Witowie znaleziono także średniowieczny cmentarz datowany na koniec jedenastego wieku po Chrystusie, będący pierwszym dowodem na obecność średniowiecznego osadnictwa na tym terenie. Położenie Witowa na brzegu doliny Wisły zapewne dawało mu kontrolę nad okolicznymi szlakami oraz, być może, także nad brodami. Możliwe, że Witów sprawował także polityczną kontrolę na otaczających go terenach. Biorąc pod uwagę naukową wartość stanowiska w Witowie i wynikającą stąd konieczność jego ochrony, postulowane jest utworzenie na jego obszarze rezerwatu przyrody. The study area near village Witów situated about 50 kilometres north-east of the Kraków city is famous for its exposed deposits called the "Witów Series" on which palaeobotanical, micro- and macrofaunistic, malacological, sedimentological and petrographical studies have already been performed. From deposits of the Witów Series, plant macroremains belonging to gymnosperms and angiosperms were reported. Pinus cf. palaeostrobus, Zelkova zelkovifolia and Spirematospermum wetzleri are particularly interesting. Results of investigations on fossil plant remains point to the Late Miocene to Pliocene age of the Witów Series. Plant communities that existed in the vicinity of Witów could be compared to recent warm temperate and humid forests of the Colchis and Talysh Lowland in Transcaucasus and to forests of Central China. Presence of remains of termophilous taxa point to warmer climate of the period of sedimentation of the Witów Series than recent climate of Poland. The Witów region is also famous for archaeological localities that has been known since the turn of the twentieth century. The site was being repeatedly settled beginning with the late Stone Age (the Neolithic Period). Traces of the most intensive periods of settlement come from the late Bronze and early Iron Ages (1000-600 BC) and are attributed to the so-called Lusatian culture. The site also yielded a medieval cemetery that can be dated to the turn of the twelfth century AD. This is the first confirmation of the presence of medieval settlements on this site. Location of Witów in the Vistula river valley may have allowed this settlement to control nearby routes and possibly river fords and also probably exercised political control over the surrounding areas. Considering scientific value of the Witów locality and necessity of their protection, creation of natural reserve on this area is suggested.