Session: #77

Theme & Session Format

Theme:
5. Theories and methods in archaeology: interactions between disciplines
Session format:
Regular session

Title & Content

Title:
Plants Meet Artifacts: Developing Interdisciplinary Approaches to Identify Plant Processing and Use in Archaeology [Archaeology of Wild Plants]
Content:
Archaeologists have long searched for methods to identify the use and function of prehistoric artefacts. The increasing application of use-wear, molecular and experimental approaches to the study of pottery vessels, flint and ground stone tools have provided crucial new insights into prehistoric tool use. However, whereas analytical methods to identify animal-derived resources are relatively well established, direct evidence for plant processing, use and consumption continues to be largely “hidden” in the archaeological record.
The aim of the session is to bring together specialists on the study of different archaeological artefacts (e.g. pottery, ground stone and flint tools), archaeobotanists (plant macro- and microremains), biomolecular archaeologists (organic residue analyses) and researchers specialized on experimental archaeology to discuss current approaches to identify the preparation and use of plant resources in the past.
We encourage problem-based interdisciplinary case studies that combine multiple lines of evidence to solve a particular question or hypothesis. Presentations highlighting the potentials and limitations of the different methods in use will also be welcome, as well as those applying new techniques or material studies (e.g. charred food crusts). Research themes are open (e.g. food preparation, processing, cooking, raw materials…), and contributions from all periods and geographic regions are generally welcome.
At the end of the session, we will organize a round table to discuss sampling and study protocols that allow multi and inter-disciplinary approaches to be implemented and guarantee the comparability of results between sites.
Keywords:
archaeobotany, use-wear analyses, organic residue analyses, flint and groundstone tools, pottery, experimental archaeology
Session associated with MERC:
no
Session associated with CIfA:
no
Session associated with SAfA:
no
Session associated with CAA:
no
Session associated with DGUF:
no
Session associated with other:
EAA community: Archaeology of Wild Plants

Organisers

Main organiser:
Amaia Arranz Otaegui (Denmark) 1
Co-organisers:
Miriam Cubas (Spain) 2
Danny Rosenberg (Israel) 3
Juan José Ibáñez (Spain) 4
Affiliations:
1. Dept. of Cross Cultural and Regional Studies, University of Copenhagen
2. Dept. of History and Philosophy, Universidad de Alcalá
3. Zinman Institute of Archaeology, University of Haifa
4. Instituto Milá i Fontanals, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas