Session: #110

Theme & Session Format

Theme:
The archaeology of material culture, bodies and landscapes
Session format:
Session, made up of a combination of papers, max. 15 minutes each

Title & Content

Title:
Disentangling human from natural factors: taphonomical value of microanatomical features on archaeological wood and charcoal assemblages
Content:
Archaeobotanical charcoal and wood analyses rely on the observation of different microanatomical features impacting the ligneous cellular structure to variable extents. These features may result from a wide range of intrinsic and extrinsic factors alluding to different stages of the wood’s taphonomical history: initial growth conditions, human selection, transformation/use and discard, post-depositional processes and archaeological sampling strategies.
This session welcomes papers from any geographical and chronological context in archaeobotany, ethnoarchaeology and/or experimentation dealing with microanatomical features visible on charcoal or wood and their archaeological relevance. Possible approaches include: anthracological signature studies (vitrification, fungal degradation patterns, radial cracks), characterisation of mineral inclusions or deposits hindering identification, dendrology, morphometry or wood traceology.
This session will also provide the opportunity for researchers to put their charcoal fragments under a microscope connected to a camera in order to share experiences of microanatomical signatures. Through a global reflexion on terminology/typology issues, potential origins of the processes involved and the confrontation of different case studies, we aim at providing a privileged space of discussion to improve our knowledge of past human practices.
Keywords:
wood; charcoal; taphonomy; human practices
Session associated with MERC:
no
Session associated with CIfA:
no
Session associated with SAfA:
no

Organisers

Main organiser:
Paloma Vidal-Matutano (Spain) 1,2
Co-organisers:
Auréade Henry (France) 1
Yolanda Carrión (Spain) 2
Ethel Allué (Spain) 3
Affiliations:
1. Université Côte-d'Azur, CEPAM, CNRS
2. Universitat de València
3. IPHES