A3 Refereed book chapter or chapter in a compilation book

Archaeobotany - a tool to explore the past




AuthorsLempiäinen-Avci Mia

EditorsPetri Halinen, Volker Heyd, Kristiina Mannermaa

PublisherSuomen arkeologinen seura

Publication year2022

Book title Oodeja Mikalle: Juhlakirja professori Mika Lavennolle hänen täyttäessään 60 vuotta

Journal acronymMASF

Article number33

Series titleMonographs of the Archaeological Society of Finland

Number in series10

First page 287

Last page292

ISBN978-952-69942-0-8

eISBN978-952-68453-9-5

ISSN1799-862X

Web address http://www.sarks.fi/masf/masf_10/masf_10.html


Abstract

Archaeobotanical research, based on plant remains found from archaeological sites, is among the
fundamental tools to study long-term interactions between humans and nature. Plant remains (i.e.
plant finds) are as important as any other archaeological finds, as they reflect the past human activities
and can be studied from diverse perspectives and with diverse methods. Archaeobotanical
finds performs a unique and fragile part of our ancient heritage. They are prone to deterioration in
the soil but also when stored in the collections; therefore, they need to be studied for the future
before important information of past vegetation is lost. Archaeobotanical remains preserved at archaeological sites provide invaluable evidence for investigating past populations, their subsistence
strategies, agricultural practices and environment. Moreover, through the paleo-archives formed
in the soil it is possible to explore history of Finland’s changing vegetation, climate and biodiversity
resulting from the human impact on nature. Also, archaeobotanical finds can give answers to
future demands of resilient plant-based food production.



Last updated on 2024-26-11 at 22:45