Tropical Archaeobotany

Book excerpt: Tropical Archaeobotany fills the need for a substantial reference work on plant remains from the tropics. It covers the examination, identification and interpretation of plant remains in tropical archaeology, whilst also the origins, spread, investigating the origins, spread, distribution and past use of tropical plants for food and other purposes. Recent technological developments in electron microscopy and biochemical and genetic research, as well as increased interest in tropical environments and ecosystems, are now beginning to realise the great potential for archaeobotanical research in the tropics. With the use of case studies from a wide range of areas, this volume details the latest macroscopic, microscopic and chemical techniques for the analysis of plant remains, from seeds, roots and tubers to epidermal fragments, pollen and phytoliths. Each chapter of Tropical Archaeobotany focuses on a different aspect of archaeobotanical research, using detailed examples from a varieety of tropical areas, though with its emphasis on techniques and methodology the book has a relevance beyond the regional scope of each chapter.