Crédito: J. Markwirth, Goethe Universität Frankfurt am Main
Research topics
Environment
Palynology, anthracology and carpology allow us to reconstruct the plant landscape exploited by human groups, to know the environmental changes that have occurred from prehistoric times to the present, and to document the adaptation of human groups to their environment.
Subsistence
The study of plant macrorest allows us to characterize the subsistence strategies used by prehistoric societies, such as the collection of wild plants, or food production systems based on domestic species, such as agriculture. Archaeobotanical studies provide key data to understand the processes of species selection (species preference), their uses (food, fuel, raw materials, construction), and the modes of exploitation used (intensive/extensive cultivation, translocation of species, forest management by fire or pruning).
Food
Food residues, seeds and fruits preserved in archaeological sites provide information on eating habits and culinary practices. They also provide us with data on the origin and evolution of foods that we consume today, such as bread or beer. Through the study of food remains from archaeological sites it is also possible to characterize the social and cultural role played by the different products (staple foods, prestige foods, foods and beverages used in rituals, etc.).
