An Introduction to Paleoethnobotany

Paleoethnobotany is defined by Hastorf as "the analysis and interpretation of archaeobotanical remains to provide information on the interactions of human populations and plants"(Hastorf 55). Sometimes referred to as archaeobotany in Europe, the terms are synonymous (Marston 1). Some of the most researched topics in this field include the origins of agriculture, human environment interaction, plant cultivation and crop production, diets, plant processing, and human society (Hastorf 55). With the depth of knowledge Paleoethnobotany uncovers, Marston describes the field as “poised at the intersection between study of the past and concerns of the present, including food security, biodiversity, and global environmental change” (Marston 3).

The reasons that paleoethnobotany is not widely known, stem from lack of visibility, cost, and popularity. Unlike bones, lithics, or pottery, it is much harder to see charred plant remains so they can often be overlooked unless someone has special training (Hastorf 57). Also, paleoethnobotany is more labor intensive and therefore more costly which also puts up barriers for this field (Hastorf 57). Additionally, seeds are often unglorified compared to related fields that have iconic discoveries such as dinosaur remains, tombs, or weaponry found from battles (Hastorf 57). Hastorf describes that to some, plants are commonly thought to be part of the woman's domain through the avenues of food processing, cooking, and eating and have been deemed as less important than other fields of study (Hastorf 57). I think this is one of the most important fields of study because it gives insight to histories deemed mundane and are probably forgotten, as well as providing a lense to look at women and their roles throughout history. Everyone is connected to plants and to food. Plants have done so much to shape every aspect of human society making it incredibly important to research. This goes to show how patriarchal lenses shape fields of study by determining what is important to study.

In paleoethnobotany there are macrobotanical and macrobotanical remains that are analyzed in different ways. For macrobotanical remains (which are mostly seeds), researchers use morphology and histology with a light microscope to identify plant remains (Hastorf 58). Microbotanical remains (including pollen and phytoliths) require high-powered microscopes as well as chemical, genetic, and molecular level identification as well as “X-ray fluorescence, paleogenetics, isozyme starch and protein electrophoresis, gas (and other) chromatography/mass spectroscopy, and electron spin resonance” (Hastorf 62,64).

Raspberry seeds recovered during paleoethnobotanical analyses
from Feature 169 (Unit S1E2) at the Sherburne House site (SB4-85).

There have been seven main advances in paleoethnobotany.

• The first is understanding why and how remains are preserved (for biological or cultural reasons) and what factors (chemical, physical, and biological) impact both morphology and preservation (Marston 5) (Hastorf 60).
• The second is improving the methods for sampling and identifying remains as well as the frequency of sampling which has been made possible by the use of improved flotation devices such as the hand-pump flotation device which is more efficient and portable (Marston 6).
• The third involves advances in computer technology and statistical software that allows for analyzing large amounts of data (Marston 6).
• The fourth involves high quality imaging of microscopes and other technology as well as computers and their ability to record, analyze (including genomics), and share/publish results to increase access (Marston 7).
• The fifth is the incorporation of processual and postprocessual theory to the field as well as involving biology, ecology, and human behavioral ecology to understand foraging, crop selection, and domestication (Marston 8).
• The sixth is the integration of paleoethnobotany with environmental archaeology in order to share data and build a more nuanced understanding of human-environmental interaction (Marston 8).
• Lastly, is the increase in specialists in paleoethnobotany and the field's inclusion is more papers and projects (Marston 9).

There are exciting new pathways in this field and important applications. Future steps include training more people with diverse educational and cultural backgrounds to give the field some innovative direction (Marston 13). This involves training people in areas of the world, such as developing countries, that have far fewer specialists and therefore less paleoethnobotanical research (Marston 13). Another improvement will be in the accessibility of data sets (Marston 13). There is very little interaction between paleoethnobotany with agriculturally caused environmental change making it a key prospect for future research (Marston 14). Additionally, this research could prove to be pivotal in understanding climate change and extinction (Marston 13). Overall, paleoethnobotany is a dynamic and powerful field that poses as an important tool for the future.


Citations

Hastorf, Christine A. “Recent Research in Paleoethnobotany.” Journal of Archaeological

Research, Vol. 7, No. 1, 1999, pp 55-103.

Marston, John, et. al. “Paleoethnobotanical Method and Theory in the Twenty-First Century.”

Method and Theory in Paleoethnobotany, University of Colorado Press, 2015.