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Archaeobotany: Social Management of Plant Resources

Code: 44478
Credits: 6

2026/2027

Degree programme	Type	Course
Prehistoric Archaeology	OP	1

Contact lecturer

Name :: Marian Berihuete Azorin
Email :: marian.berihuete@uab.cat

Teaching staff

: Ramon Perez Obiol
: Raquel Piqué Huerta
: Marian Berihuete Azorin
: Rosa Maria Albert Cristobal
: Umberto Lombardo

Group languages

You can consult this information at the end of the document.

Prerequisites

None

Objectives

Archaeobotany focuses on the study of the plant environment and the uses of plants in the past. Students will gain an understanding of how to analyze the remains of plants from the archaeological sites and properly manage their studies. Current theoretical and methodological debates of the discipline will be presented. Sampling strategies, recovery methods, classification, quantification, and interpretation of archaeobotanical remains will be addressed. Although the module deals with all types of the plant remain, the course focuses mainly on the identification of plant macro-remains (seeds, fruits, wood, charcoal), phytolith and pollen. The module has a theoretical-practical approach. By the end of the module, students will be acquainted with how plant assemblages can be interpreted to give us a fuller picture of past economies and human-environment interactions in different archaeological periods.

Learning outcomes

That the students can apply their knowledge and their ability to solve problems in new or unfamiliar environments within broader (or multidisciplinary) contexts related to their field of study.
Knowledge and understanding that provide a basis or opportunity for originality in developing and / or applying ideas, often in a research context.
Demonstrate the ability to integrate into a team with specialists from other disciplines.
Recognize the main challenges in the field of studying lithic resources from prehistoric chronology.
Critically evaluate the suitability of the different instrumental tools necessary for the investigation of lithic materials in Prehistoric Archaeology.
Organise and plan research work in archaeobotany.
Apply the theoretical knowledge acquired and solve archaeobotanical problems in new environments.
Present and justify conclusions clearly and unambiguously in the field of archaeobotany.
Implement protocols for conducting field work and archaeobotanical sample collection.
Critically assess the value of the different tools needed for research.

Introduction to the categories of archaeobotanical remains.
The processes of formation of archaeobotanical record.
Sampling and recovery methods of remains during excavation.
Scope and methods in anthracology and dendrology.
Scope and methods in carpology.
Scope and methods in archaeopalinology
Scope and method in phytolith science
New trends in archaeobotany.

Learning activities and methodology

Title	Hours	ECTS	Learning outcomes
Problem-based learning	20	0.8	1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8
Laboratory practices	20	0.8	1, 6, 7, 9
Introductory classes on the theoretical and methodological approaches of the subject.	10	0.4	2, 4, 5, 10
Independent study	94	3.76	2, 4, 5, 10

Guided activities:

- Introductory classes on the theoretical and methodological approaches of the subject.

- Discussion seminars

- Laboratory practices

Supervised activities:

- Tutorials and guided learning exercises (individual or in small groups)

Autonomous activities:

- Search of documentation, reading texts, writing papers and study

Annotation: within the schedule set by the centre or degree programme, 15 minutes of one class will be reserved for students to evaluate their lecturers and their courses or modules through questionnaires.

Assessment

Continuous assessment activities

Title	Weight	Hours	ECTS	Learning outcomes
Practical exercises	20%	1.5	0.06	1, 2, 6, 7, 9
Laboratory work report	40%	1.5	0.06	5, 6, 7, 10
Final assignment (test/ written assignment)	40%	3	0.12	2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 10

Attendance and participation: participation in class discussions and oral presentation of assignments and practical exercises.

Practical laboratory exercises: written report on the laboratory practicals.

Final assignment (or final exam).

Exchange students:

Erasmus and exchange students who wish to sit an examination on an earlier date must provide an official document from their home university justifying their request.

Single assessment:

This course does not offer a single-assessment option.

Revision and retake:

After each assessment activity, lecturers will inform students (via Moodle) of the procedure for reviewing the marks awarded and the date on which the review will take place.

Continuous assessment:

To be eligible for the resit, students must have completed assessment activities representing at least two-thirds of the final grade.

Not assessed:

Students will receive a "Not assessed" (NA) grade unless they have completed more than 30% of the assessment activities.

Academic misconduct (including plagiarism):

If a student commits any irregularity that may lead to a significant alteration of the grade awarded for an assessment activity, that activity will be graded as zero (0), without prejudice to any disciplinary proceedings that may follow. If several irregularities are detected in the assessment activities for the same course, the final grade for the course will be zero (0).

Use of artificial intelligence: restricted

This subject allows the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies exclusively in tasks of bibliographic search or information search, text correction and at the discretion of the teaching staff. Students must (i) identify the parts that have been generated with AI; (ii) specify the tools used; and (iii) include a critical reflection on how these have influenced the process and the final result of the activity.

The lack of transparency of the use of AI in this assessable activity will be considered a lack of academic honesty and will result in the activity being assessed with a 0 and not being able to be recovered, or major sanctions in serious cases.

Those assessment acts in which there have been irregularities (copying, misuse of AI, etc.) are not recoverable

This subject does not include the Single Assessment.

Bibliography

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ALONSO, N. 1999. De la llavor a la farina. Els processos agrícoles protohistòrics a la Catalunya Occidental, 3

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HENRY, A. G. 2020 Handbook for the analysis of micro-particles in archaeological samples. Springer Nature, 318 p.

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BEHRE, K.-. JACOMET, S. 1991. The ecological interpretation of archaeobotanical data. In Progress in Old World Palaeoethnobotany, eds. W. Van Zeist, K. Wasylikowa K.-. Behre, Balkema, Rotterdam, pp. 81-108.

BOGAARD, A., HEATON, T.H.E., POULTON, P., MERBACH, I. 2007. The impact of manuring on nitrogen isotope ratios in cereals: archaeological implications for reconstruction of diet and crop management practices. Journal of Archaeological Science, vol. 34, pp. 335-343.

BOGAARD, A., HODGSON, P.J., WILSON, P.J., BAND, S.R. 1998. An index of weed size for assessing the soil productivity of ancient crop fields. Vegetation History and Archaeobotany, vol. 7, pp. 17-22.

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BUXO, R. 1998 Arqueología de las plantas Crítica, Barcelona.[P2]

BUXÓ, R., PIQUÉ, R. 2008. Arqueobotànica. Los usos de las plantas en la Península Ibèrica. Barcelona: Ariel

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CARRIÓN, J.S., MUNUERA, M., NAVARRO, C., SAÉZ, F. 2000. Paleoclimas e historia de la vegetación cuaternaria en España a través del análisis polínico. Viejas falacias y nuevos paradigmas. Complutum, 11: 115-142

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CARRIÓN, Y. , BADAL, E. 2004. La presencia de hongos e insectos xilófagos en el carbón arqueológico. Propuestas de interpretación. Avances en Arqueometría 2003. Cádiz: Universidad de Cádiz. pp. 98-106

CHARLES, M., BOGAARD, A., JONES, G., HODGSON, J., HALSTEAD, P. 2002. Towards the archaeobotanical identification of intensive cereal cultivation: present-day ecological investigation in the mountains of Asturias, northwest Spain. Vegetation History and Archaeobotany, vol. 11, pp. 133-142

DAMBLON, F. (ed.) 2013. Proceedings of the Fourth International Meeting of Anthracology: Brussels, 8–13 September 2008. Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences, BAR IS 2486. University of Michigan Press

DELHON, C. THÉRY-PARISOT, I., THIÉBAULT, S. (dir.) 2010. Des Hommes et des Plantes. Exploitation du Milieu et gestion des resources [P3] végétales de la Préhistoire à nous [P4] jours. Antibes: Éd. APDCA. pp. 323-331

DIMBLEBY, G.W. 1985 The palynology of archaeological sites. Academic Press, London.

DUFRAISSE, A. (ed.) 2006. Charcoal Analysis: New Analytical Tools and Methods for Archaeology.Oxford: BAR International Series 1483. pp. 103-108

DUFRAISSE, A. 2006. Charcoal anatomy potential, wood diameter and radial growth. In:Dufraisse, A. (ed.) Charcoal Analysis: New Analytical Tools and Methods for Archaeology.Oxford: BAR International Series 1483, pp. 47-59

DUFRAISSE, A., SYLVIE COUBRAY, LLORENÇ PICORNELL-GELABERT, MARTA ALCOLEA, OLIVIER GIRARDCLOS, FRÉDÉRIC DELARUE AND THANH-THUY NGUYEN TU, 2022. Taming Trees, Shaping Forests, and Managing Woodlands as Resources for Understanding Past Societies. Contributions and Current Limits of Dendro-Anthracology and Anthraco-Isotopy. Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution. March 2022 | Volume 10 | Article 823968

ECKSTEIN, D. 2007. Human time in tree rings. Dendrochronologia, 24: 53-60 4

ERNST, M. , JACOMET, S. 2005. The value of the archaeobotanical analysis of desiccated plant remains from old buildings: methodological aspects and interpretation of crop weed assemblage. Vegetation History and Archaeobotany, 15: 45-56

FAVRE, P., JACOMET, S. 1998. Branch Wood from the lake shore settlements of Horgen Scheller, Schwitzerland: Evidence of economic specialization in the late Neolithic period. Vegetation History and Archaeobotany, 7: 167-178

FERRIO, J.P., ARAUS, J.L., BUXÓ, R., VOLTAS, J., BORT, J. 2005. Water management practices and climate in ancient agriculture: inferences from the stable isotope composition of archaeobotanical remains. Vegetation History and Archaeobotany, vol. 14, pp. 510-517

FULLER, D.Q. 2007. Contrasting patterns in crop domestication and domestication rates: recent archaeobotanical insights from the Old World. Annals of Botany, vol. 100, no. 5, pp. 903-924

GALE, R., CUTLER, D. 2000. Plants in Archaeology. Identification manual of vegetative plantmaterials used in Europe and the southern Mediterranean to c. 1500. Kew: Westbury and Royal Botanic Gardens. 512 pp

GUSTAFSSON, S. 2000. Carbonized cereals grains and weed seeds in Prehistoric houses - an experimental perspective, Journal of Archaeological Science, vol. 27, pp. 65-70.

HAAS, J.N. 2002. 6000 years of tree pollarding and leaf-hay foddering of livestock in the Alpine Area. Austrian Journal of Forest Science, 119, Heft 3/4: 231-240

HAAS, J.N.,KARG, S. RASMUSSEN, P. 1998. Beech leaves and twigs used as winter fodder examples from historic and prehistoric times, Environmental archaeology, vol. 1, pp. 81-86.

HASTORF, C.A. , V.S. POPPER 1988 Current Paleoethnobotany: Analytical Methods and Cultural Interpretations of Archaeological Plant Remains The University of Chicago Press

HATHER, J.G. 2000. The Identification of the Northern European Woods. A guide for archaeologists and conservators, London: Archetype Publications.

HEIZER, R. 1963. Domestic fuel in primitive societies. Journal of the Royal Anthropological Institute. 93 (2): 186-194

JACOMET, S. ET AL. 2006. Identification of cereal remains from archaeological sites, Archaeobotany Lab, IPAS, Basel University

JONES, G., CHARLES, M., BOGAARD, A. HODGSON, J. 2010. Crops and weeds: the role of weed functional ecology in the identification of crop husbandry methods, Journal of Archaeological Science, vol. 37, pp. 70-77.

LENNSTROM, H.A. , HASTORF, CH.A. 1995. Interpretation in Context: Sampling and Analysis in Paleoethnobotany. American Antiquity, 60 (4): 701-721

LÓPEZ-SÁEZ, J.A. , LÓPEZ, P. , BURJACHS, F. 2003. Arqueopalinología: síntesis crítica. Polen, 12: 5-35

LUDEMANN, T. 2008. Experimental charcoalburning with special regard to anthracological wood diameter analysis. In: G. Fiorentino, D. Magri (eds.) Charcoals from the Past: Cultural and Palaeoenvironmental Implications. Proceedings of the Third International Meeting of Anthracology, Cavallino-Lecce (Italy). Oxford: BAR International Series 1807: 147-157

LUDEMANN, T. 2010. Past fuel wood exploitation and natural forest vegetation in the Black Forest, the Vosges and neighbouring regions in western Central Europe. Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology, 291 (1-2): 154-165

MARGUERIE, D. , HUNOT, J.-Y. 2007. Charcoal analysis and dendrology: data from archaeological sites in north-western France. Journal of Archaeological Science, 34: 1417-1433 5

MASON, S.L.R. NESBITT, M. 2009. Acorns as food in southeast Turkey: implications for prehistoric subsistence in Southwest Asia in From foragers to farmers. Papers in honour of Gordon C. Hillman, eds. A. Fairbairn E. Weiss, Oxbow Books, Oxford, pp. 71-85.

MCPARLAND, L.C. , COLLINSON, M.E. , SCOTT, A.C. , CAMPBELL, G. , VEAL, R. 2010. Is vitrification in charcoal a result of high temperature burning of wood?. Journal of Archaeological Science, 37: 2679-2687

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OUT, W. 2009. Sowing the seed? Human impact and plant subsistence in Dutch wetlands during the Late Mesolithic and Early and Middle Neolithic (5500-3400 cal BC), Leiden University Press, Leiden

PEARSALL, D. 2015. Paleoethnobotany: A Handbook of Procedures. Left Coast Press: Walnut Creek.

PEÑA-CHOCARRO, L. , ZAPATA, L. , GONZÁLEZ, J.E. , IBÁÑEZ, J.J. 2000. Agricultura, alimentación y uso del combustible: aplicación de modelos etnográficos en arqueobotánica. In: C. Mata G. Pérez (eds.) Agricultors, artesans I comerciants. III Reunió sobre economía en el mon ibèric. Saguntum Extra 3: 403-420

PIQUÉ, R. 1999. Producción y uso del combustible vegetal: una evaluación arqueològica. Treballs d'Etnoarqueologia 3, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Madrid (1999)

SPENGLER, R., 2025. Nature’s greatest success: how plants evolved to exploit humanity. Berkeley.

THÉRY-PARISOT, I. , CHABAL, L. , CHRZAVZEZ, J. 2010. Anthracology and taphonomy, from wood gathering to charcoal analysis. A review of the taphonomic processes modifying charcoal assemblages, in archaeological contexts, Palaeogeography, Paleoclimatology, Palaeoecology. 291

VALAMOTI, S.M. CHARLES, M. 2005. Distinguishing food from fodder through the study of charred plant remains: an experimental approach to dung-derived chaff, Vegetation History and Archaeobotany, vol. 14, pp. 528-533.

VALAMOTI, S.M. 2013. Towards a distinction between digested and undigested glume bases in the archaeobotanical record from Neolithic northern Greece: A preliminary experimental investigation, Environmental archaeology, vol. 18, no. 1, pp. 31-42.

VAN ZEIST, W. , WASYLIKOWA, K. i BERHE, K.E. 1991. Progres [P5] in Old World Palaeoetnobotany. Rotterdam: Balkema.[P6]

WILKINSON, K. AND STEVENS, C. 2003. Environmental Archaeology. Approaches, Techniques Applications. Tempus, Stroud. York: Academic Press.

Atles de referència

REILLE, M. 1992. Pollen et spores d’europe et d’afrique du nord (Pollen and Spores of Europe and North Africa). Laboratoire de Botanique historique et Palynologie, Marseille.

SCHWEINGRUBER, F. H. 1978. Mikroskopische holzanatomie Zürcher A.G. Zug

SCHWEINGRUBER, F. H. 1990. Anatomie europäischer Hölzer. Bern und Stuttgart

SCHWEINGRUBER, F. H. 1996. Tree rings and environment dendroecology. Birmensdorf: SwissFederal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research- Berne: Haupt.

CAPPERS, R.T.J., BEKKER, R.M., JANS, J.E.A. 2006. Digital Seed Atlas of the Netherlands. Barkhuis Publishing, Groningen

http://www.wsl.ch/land/products/dendro/

http://seeds.eldoc.ub.rug.nl/

Complementary bibliography

Will be facilitate along the course

Software