The parenchymous remains of roots and tubers are increasingly recognised as an important category of plant remain alongside seeds, fruits and wood charcoal. Identification is however frequently viewed as problematical and such important indicators of past diet are often left unidentified.
This book describes the full range of anatomical and morphological characters used in the identification of the parenchymous remains of roots and tubers. Each of the characters is illustrated by photographs of modern and archaeological plant tissues and by line drawings. Further sections of the book also deal with the examination of archaeological tissues and the preparation of modern plant tissue reference collections.
Table of illustrations
Acknowledgements
1. Introduction
Parenchyma as a plant remain
How to use this book
Celles and tissues-an introduction to vegetative soft tissue anatomy
2. Gross morphology
Introduction
Historical perspective
Morphological definitions
3. Surface morphology
Introduction
Detachment scars-abscission zones
Detachment scars-breakage zones
Buds
Prickles and spines
Surface topography
4. Parenchyma
Parenchyma as a tissue
Cell size and shape
The fracture plane
Cell contents
Aerenchyma
Boundary tissues
Cavities in parenchyma
The water content of parenchyma on charring
The diagnostic value of parenchyma
5. The vascular tissues of the stem
Meristems and the primary and secondary plant body
The primary stem
The nature and preservation of vascular tissues
The secondary stem in Monocotyledons
6. Root tissues
Primary root tissues
Secondaryroot storage issues
Anomalous teriary growth
7. Sclerenchyma
General properties and function
Fibres
Sclereids
Preservation in charred tissues
General recognition and diagnostic value
8. Pratical methods
Fragments of archaeological parenchyma
The diagnostic value of anatomical and morphological characters
Sampling and recovery
The identification process
Observation of archaeobotanical remains
Recording characters on data sheets
Collection of reference material
Morphological and anatomical variation within species
Preparation of modern reference materials
Glossary
References
Index
Published 2000
