This discussion has been closed.
Posted by Penske666 (U9181113) on Friday, 5th September 2008
How many archaeologists employ this technology along with pollen samples in their work.
I've only come across this carbon harbouring part of a plant today so no nothing about it but understand it is used somewhere in the field.
, in reply to message 1.
Posted by an ex-nordmann - it has ceased to exist (U3472955) on Friday, 5th September 2008
They have been used to determine the diet of the once owners of excavated skeletal remains. They are also used to determine what foods were prepared for consumption in ancient hearths, some going back to neolithic times. In Iraq they used phytoliths in determining what plants proliferated in Babylon in an attempt to deduce what the legendary "hanging gardens" actually consisted of. The findings were inconclusive - a blend of indigenous decorative plants and crops, like in any city of the time.
They are of more use however to palaeonthologists who use them to deduce and map changes in vegetation patterns over many millennia.
Hi Penske666,
Phytoliths are silica, not carbon, harbouring plant bodies. Their analysis is quite widely used in archaeology.
In their attempts to understand the spread of plants in the past archaeobotanists use macrofossils, pollen and phytoliths. A common form of macrofossil is the charred grain which, naturally, is informative on cereal crops. Pollen analysis is especially helpful in determining plant transitions, like forestation and de-forestation but some important crops actually release relatively little pollen into the air.
Silica phytoliths are extremely durable. Famously maize and rice have characteristic phytoliths so that archaeobotanists studying these crops would search for them in suitable deposits.
TP
The History message boards are now closed. They remain visible as a matter of record but the opportunity to add new comments or open new threads is no longer available. Thank you all for your valued contributions over many years.
or Β to take part in a discussion.
The message board is currently closed for posting.
The message board is closed for posting.
This messageboard is .
Find out more about this board's
Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Β© 2014 The Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read more.
This page is best viewed in an up-to-date web browser with style sheets (CSS) enabled. While you will be able to view the content of this page in your current browser, you will not be able to get the full visual experience. Please consider upgrading your browser software or enabling style sheets (CSS) if you are able to do so.