Phytoliths A Comprehensive Guide for Archaeologists and Paleoecologists

by Piperno, Dolores R.

• ISBN13: 9780759103849
• ISBN10: 0759103844
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2006-01-30
• Publisher: AltaMira Press

Summary

Introductory guide to the analysis of plant phytoliths in archaeology. Visit our website for sample chapters!

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments	ix
Introduction: With a Short History of Phytolith Research	1	(4)
The Production, Deposition, and Dissolution of Phytoliths	5	(18)
The Development of Phytoliths in Plants	5	(7)
Summary: How Plants Make Phytoliths	12	(1)
Why Plants Make Phytoliths	12	(3)
Chemical and Physical Characteristics of Phytoliths	15	(1)
The Occurrence of Phytoliths in the Plant Kingdom	15	(6)
Mechanisms of Phytolith Deposition into Soils and Sediments	21	(1)
Phytolith Preservation in Various Depositional Contexts	21	(2)
Phytolith Morphology	23	(22)
Some Fundamental Aspects of Phytolith Morphology	24	(3)
The Major Classes of Phytoliths: Introduction	27	(1)
Phytoliths in the Poaceae	27	(8)
Phytolith Morphology in Pteridophytes, Gymnosperms, and Angiosperms	35	(4)
Eudicots	39	(2)
Phytoliths in Fruits and Seeds	41	(1)
Phytoliths in Wood	41	(1)
Less Useful Types of Phytoliths	42	(1)
Summary of Phytolith Taxonomic and Ecological Significance	43	(2)
Phytoliths in Domesticated Plants and Their Wild Ancestors	45	(36)
Maize (Zea mays) and Teosinte (Zea mays subsp. parviglumis)	45	(20)
Squashes and Gourds of Cucurbita and Other Domesticated Cucurbitaceae	65	(6)
Maranta arundinacea and Calathea allouia (Arrowroot and Liren)	71	(1)
Oryza sativa (Rice)	72	(2)
Musa spp. (Bananas and Plantains) and Enset, (Enset, Abyssinian or Ethiopian Banana)	74	(2)
Wheat (Triticum monococcum, T. dicoccum, and T. aestivum) and Barley (Hordeum vulgare)	76	(2)
Summary of Phytolith Analysis in Crop Plant Identification and Prospects for Future Research	78	(3)
Field Techniques and Research Design	81	(8)
Sampling Archaeological Sites	81	(3)
Sampling Lakes, Swamps, and Other Sites for Paleoecological Studies	84	(2)
Modern Controls on Sampling	86	(1)
Modern Vegetation and Soil Studies	87	(2)
Laboratory Techniques	89	(14)
The Phytolith Laboratory	89	(1)
Techniques for Extracting Phytoliths from Soils	90	(3)
Methods of Phytolith Isolation for Carbon-14 and Stable Isotope Study	93	(2)
Separating Phytoliths, Pollen, Diatoms, and Microscopic Charcoal Simultaneously and Recovering Starch Granules	95	(2)
Extraction of Phytoliths from Modern Plants	97	(1)
Preparation of Archaeological Ash Samples (Spodograms)	98	(1)
Extraction of Starch Grains from Modern Plants	98	(1)
The Isolation of Phytoliths and Starch Grains from Artifacts and Dental Remains	98	(2)
Other Techniques of Phytolith Study	100	(1)
Phytolith Staining	101	(1)
Microscope Techniques	101	(1)
Documentation of Phytoliths and Long-Term Curation of Photographs and Images	102	(1)
The Interpretation of Phytolith Assemblages: Method and Theory	103	(36)
The Formation and Interpretation of Archaeological and Paleoecological Phytolith Assemblages	103	(12)
Data Handling and Presentation	115	(10)
New Approaches in Phytolith Analysis	125	(9)
The Analysis and Interpretation of Particulate Charcoal and Charred Phytoliths Occurring in Phytolith Preparations	134	(5)
The Role of Phytoliths in Archaeological Reconstruction	139	(26)
Studying Prehistoric Plant Subsistence, Agriculture, and Agricultural Technology with Phytoliths	140	(23)
Phytoliths, Dental Remains, and Diet	163	(1)
Phytoliths, Stone Tool Function, and Diet	163	(1)
Phytoliths in Pottery	164	(1)
The Role of Phytoliths in Paleoecology	165	(22)
Phytoliths and Paleolimnology	165	(10)
Peat Bogs	175	(1)
Terrestrial Soils and Sediments	175	(8)
Phytoliths in Deep (Pre-Quaternary) Time	183	(1)
Phytoliths in Deep-Sea Cores	184	(1)
The Future Potential of Phytolith Analysis	185	(2)
Appendix: Phytolith Photographs and Illustrations with Their Explanations	187	(24)
References	211	(18)
Index	229	(9)
About the Author	238