Plants and Archaeology

"Early man used plants for food and drink, their fibres for clothing and shelter. He even cultivated them for decoration. In societies all over the ancient world man used whatever plant material came to hand, from flowers and herbs to heavy grasses like bamboo, and wood. Tissues have survived miraculously offering specific evidence about both domestic and agricultural activity. But until recently some archaeologists ignored such remains, underestimating their signficance. Pollen and charcoal dating have now become an indispensable part of the archaeologist's arsenal, but, as this study shows, there are many other ways of using plant remains to learn about the past..."--Publisher's description.