Plants, People and Places · Recent Studies in Phytolithic Analysis by Marco, Zurro Deubora Madella -- Read -- Imperial Library of Trantor

Index

Title Page Copyright Page Table of Contents Acknowledgements Foreword PART 1: METHODOLOGICAL APPROACHES

Introduction Materials and methods Results Discussion and conclusion Acknowledgements

Introduction The proxies Opal phytolith analysis of soil thin sections The Treurenberg thin sections The Treurenberg soil samples Archaeological implications Conclusions Acknowledgments Appendix Thin section: Treur K34. Profile: T3. Horizon: 4 + top 5. SU 115 Thin section: Treur K47.2. Profile: T4. Horizons: 4, 5 & 6. SU 173. Thin section: Treur C4.1. Profile: T3. Horizons: 5 & 6. SU 115 & 116

PART 2: BOTANICAL RESEARCH

3 A survey of phytoliths produced by the vegetation of Dhofar, Oman

Introduction Study area Vegetation Plant communities Materials and methods Results Conclusion

4 Microfossils characterization from south Andean economic plants

Introduction The regional problem Materials and methods Results Discussion Conclusion Acknowledgements Appendix 4.1 Samples provenience Appendix 4.2 Phytolith and starch grain descriptions

Introduction Methods Results Discussion Conclusion Acknowledgments

6 Silicification of conifers and its significance to the environment

Introduction The silicon biocycle Silicon deposition in conifer roots, stems and leaves Materials and methods Results Discussion Biotic and climatic factors influencing coniferous forest ecosystems Significance of conifer phytoliths in soils Preservation of conifer phytoliths Climate change and coniferous forests Silica phytoliths as proxies of palaeoclimatic change Acknowledgements

PART 3: APPLICATIONS IN ARCHAEOLOGY

Introduction The Abric Romaní site The hearths Archaeobotanical remains, bones and stone-tools Methodology for the phytolith study Results Conclusions Acknowledgements

8 The analysis of phytolith from Braehead archaeological site (Scotland, UK)

Introduction Objectives of the phytolith study from Braehead Methodology Results Discussion Conclusions Acknowledgements

9 Microstratigraphy of an Early Historic refuse pit: a phytolithological approach

Introduction Phytolithological analysis Field and laboratory procedures Results Discussion Acknowledgments

The archaeological background Approach to the problem The archaeo-stratigraphical sequence Field and laboratory methods Diagnostic results of Layers 5, 4 and 3 The biostratigraphic zonation Acknowledgments

Introduction Methods Results Correlations Comments and conclusion Acknowledgements Appendix 11.1: Possible occurrence of grasses in Ambathala catchment area

12 Phytoliths as artifacts: evidence of threshing on silica bodies

Introduction The Neolithic findings The Bronze and Iron Age findings New World threshing floors The importance of cut phytoliths

PART 4: PALAEOECOLOGICAL STUDIES IN ARCHAEOLOGICAL CONTEXTS

13 Phytoliths and micropalaeontological data in a boggy soil

Introduction Geographical location and general description of study site Materials and methods Results and discussion Conclusions Acknowledgements

14 Phytoliths from the Pleistocene site of Ambrona (Soria, Spain)

Introduction Techniques and methods Results Conclusions Acknowledgements

Introduction Site location and description Methods Complementarity between off-site charcoal and phytolith analyses Definition of a new phytolith index: Bulliform Index Results Discussion: evolution of the vegetation as reconstructed by phytolith and charcoal analyses Conclusion

PART 5: APPLICATIONS IN PALAEOECOLOGY

Introduction Historical antecedents and paleogrostological significance Geological and paleontological setting Materials and methods Results Paleobotanical affinities and conclusions

17 Various phytolith types as bearers of different kinds of ecological information

Introduction Object and methods of study Results Discussion Conclusions Acknowledgments

Introduction Material and method of analysis Results and discussion Acknowledgments

Introduction Study sites Techniques and methods Results Conclusions Acknowledgements

Bibliography List of Contributors