Series: Handb for Archaeologists

Aims to provide a readily accessible introduction to the aims, applications, potential results, and sources of doubt and error in the study of plant remains from archaeological sites. Chapters treat the status and an outline history of archaeobotany, its general principles and procedures, sampling, laboratory methods (extraction and processing), identification, interpretation, and cooperation between archaeologists, historians, and archaeobotanists. In summary are given five important rules for archaeologist and archaeobotanist.

Sets out the general principles of the method, discusses sample material and contamination, chemical treatment for various sample types, and archaeological use (how to formulate the problem, select the samples, and interpret the results). Includes section on direct dating by AMS (accelerator mass spectroscopy) and provides a list of principal rules and recommendations, with a sample submission form.