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Journal ArticleDOI

Reconstructing Woodland Vegetation and its Exploitation by Past Societies, based on the Analysis and Interpretation of Archaeological Wood Charcoal Macro-Remains

Eleni Asouti, +1 more
- 01 Apr 2005 - 
- Vol. 10, Iss: 1, pp 1-18
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TLDR
In this paper, the significance of the analysis of archaeological wood charcoal macro-remains as a tool for the reconstruction of woodland vegetation and its exploitation is discussed, drawing from both older and more recent publications a number of theoretical and methodological approaches are examined.
Abstract
In this paper the significance of the analysis of archaeological wood charcoal macro-remains as a tool for the reconstruction of woodland vegetation and its exploitation is discussed. Drawing from both older and more recent publications a number of theoretical and methodological approaches are examined. It is suggested that greater integration of charcoal and archaeological data is needed when evaluating charcoal preservation and sample composition, and that a more coherent theory of the complex ecological and cultural processes affecting species availability and firewood management needs to be developed.

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Citations
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Journal ArticleDOI

Anthracology and taphonomy, from wood gathering to charcoal analysis. A review of the taphonomic processes modifying charcoal assemblages, in archaeological contexts

TL;DR: In this article, a review of the taphonomic processes affecting anthracological assemblages in archaeological contexts, from wood gathering to the analysis of charcoal results, is presented.
Journal ArticleDOI

Preservation of fungi in archaeological charcoal

TL;DR: In this article, the authors focus on preservation aspects related to the microorganisms in wood and demonstrate the structural changes that take place in different types of decayed wood after it was converted into charcoal.
Journal ArticleDOI

The ethnoarchaeology of firewood management in the Fang villages of Equatorial Guinea, central Africa: Implications for the interpretation of wood fuel remains from archaeological sites

TL;DR: In this article, a case study from the Fang society of Equatorial Guinea (central Africa) aimed at gaining a better understanding of the complex interactions between cultural, ecological and economic variables in firewood collection strategies.
Journal ArticleDOI

Olea europaea L. in the North Mediterranean Basin during the Pleniglacial and the Early–Middle Holocene

TL;DR: In this paper, the authors define the natural distribution of Olea europaea L. var. sylvestris (Miller) Lehr in the North Mediterranean basin during the Pleniglacial and the Early-Middle Holocene by means of the identification of its wood-charcoal and/or wood at prehistoric sites.
References
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Journal ArticleDOI

Willow Smoke and Dogs’ Tails: Hunter-Gatherer Settlement Systems and Archaeological Site Formation

TL;DR: In this paper, a theory of adaptation is proposed to anticipate both differences in settlement-subsistence strategies and patterning in the archaeological record through a more detailed knowledge of the distribution of environmental variables.
Book

Ethnoarchaeology in Action

TL;DR: In this paper, a case-study approach enables a balanced global geographic and topical coverage, including consideration of materials in French and German, and a look at ethnoarchaeology's contributions actual and potential.
Journal ArticleDOI

Alyawara Site Structure and Its Archaeological Implications

TL;DR: In this article, the authors compared the Alyawara behavior with those of the!Kung and the Nunamiut and tentatively inferred that most of the variability in site structure in these cases is a function of differences in the degree of reliance on food storage, seasonal variation in weather, household population size, and the length of time activity areas are in use.
Journal ArticleDOI

Charcoal Analysis and the « Principle of Least Effort »―A Conceptual Model

TL;DR: A conceptual model is presented to determine situations in which the Principle of Least Effort may, or may not, apply, and helps identify when the PLE may be a useful model for interpretation of appropriate data sets.
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