Introduction to Archaeobotany

Catalog description

This course is an introduction to the field of archaeobotany, the study of botanical remains from archaeological sites aimed at the reconstruction and interpretation of human-plant relationships in the past. Through active participation, students will learn the processes underlying the inclusion and preservation of botanical remains in the archaeological record, understand the main methodologies and laboratory protocols employed for their recovery and identification, and explore the principal assumptions deployed for their interpretation. Through this work, students will be directly engaging with the central and current trends in archaeobotanical research. The course is built around lectures, in-class discussion, and practical lab experience. Students will be involved in hands-on work at the microscope, collectively conducting an analysis of a macro-botanical assemblage from an archaeological site.