BookAnna Maria Mercuri, A. Catherine D'Andrea, Rita Fornaciari, Alexa Höhn, editors.
Summary: There is an essential connection between humans and plants, cultures and environments, and this is especially evident looking at the long history of the African continent. This book, comprising current research in archaeobotany on Africa, elucidates human adaptation and innovation with respect to the exploitation of plant resources. In the long-term perspective climatic changes of the environment as well as human impact have posed constant challenges to the interaction between peoples and the plants growing in different countries and latitudes. This book provides an insight into/overview of the manifold routes people have taken in various parts Africa in order to make a decent living from the provisions of their environment by bringing together the analyses of macroscopic and microscopic plant remains with ethnographic, botanical, geographical and linguistic research. The numerous chapters cover almost all the continent countries, and were prepared by most of the scholars who study African archaeobotany, i.e. the complex and composite history of plant uses and environmental transformations during the Holocene.
Contents:
Intro; Contents; Plants and People in the African Past: Themes and Objectives of Archaeobotany; IWAA Workshops; Published Volumes from Previous IWAA Workshops; The Organization and Themes of This Book; Acknowledgements; References; Mediterranean Africa; Archaeobotanical Study at the Early Dynastic Cemetery in Helwan (3100-2600 BC), Egypt: Plant Diversity at Early Dynastic Memphis; Abstract; Introduction; The Study Area; Materials and Methods; Results; Crop Plants; Cereals; Flax; Pulses; Wild/Weedy Plants; Wild Fruits; Field Weeds; Plants of Moist Habitats; Plants of Dry Habitats. Dry-Sieved Samples from Squares C3-4 and C10-11Charred Residue Samples from the Vats in Operation B; Discussion; Conclusions; Acknowledgements; References; Grapes, Raisins and Wine? Archaeobotanical Finds from an Egyptian Monastery; Abstract; Introduction; The Monastic Settlement of Saint John the Little; Charred Grape-Pressing Remains; Grape Pressing Remains: Evidence of Wine Production?; Grape-Pressing Remains: Uses and Disposal; Wine Production in the Coptic Church; Conclusions; Acknowledgements; References. Indeterminate Taxa Discussion; Conclusions; Acknowledgements; References; Study of Plant Remains from the Embalming Cache KV63 at Luxor, Egypt; Abstract; Introduction; Floral Collars in Ancient Egypt; Materials and Methods; Results and Discussion; The Plant Remains Arranged in K
V63: Floral Collars and Other Plant Remains; Floral Collars; Other Plant Remains; Conclusion; Acknowledgements; References; Farming and Trade in Amheida/Trimithis (Dakhla Oasis, Egypt): New Insights from Archaeobotanical Analysis; Abstract; Introduction; The Context of Study; Ecological Setting. The Archaeological ContextMaterials and Methods; Results; Discussion; Semi-desert Vegetation; Acacia nilotica (Nile Acacia); Ziziphus spina-Christi (Christ's Thorn); Phoenix dactylifera (Date Palm); Mediterranean Plants; Olea europaea (Olive Tree); Ceratonia siliqua (Carob); Asian and Rare Plants; Prunus persica (Peach); Terminalia chebula (Black Myrobalan); Conclusion; References; Archaeobotanical Studies from Hierakonpolis: Evidence for Food Processing During the Predynastic Period in Egypt; Abstract; Introduction; Materials and Methods; Results. The Role of Morphometry to Delineate Changes in the Spikelet Shape of Wild Cereals: The Case Study of Takarkori (Holocene, Central Sahara, SW Libya)Abstract; Introduction; The Study Area; Materials and Methods; Sample Selection; Morphometrical Analysis; Statistical Analysis; Results; Morphometrical Analysis; Statistical Analysis; Discussion; Cereals as Key to Understanding Plant Resources in Central Sahara; Conclusion; Acknowledgements; References; Web Sites; The Holocene Flora and Vegetation of Ti-n Hanakaten (Tassili n'Ajjer, Algerian Sahara); Abstract; Introduction.