Dig Into History – April 2019

lant remains are found scattered across
archaeological sites, typically mixed
with architectural remains such as
pottery and bones. Within the last several
decades, the study of ancient plants — a field
known as paleoethnobotany — has seen
continued advancement. As a result, our
understanding of plants and the roles they played
in our ancestors’ lives has greatly expanded.

Plants Can ‘Talk’
Despite their small size and seeming fragility,
plants are often preserved in the archaeological
record. Therefore, when historical evidence for
plant foods is scarce, as is the case in Anglo-
Saxon England, paleoethnobotany offers us a
unique opportunity to better understand how
plants were being used and eaten

today — providing food, shelter, and clothes — so

they were an essential daily part of Anglo-Saxon

life. Paleoethnobotany can be used to answer

many questions beyond the basics of the types of

food people were consuming. For example, by

analyzing plant remains, we can better

understand developments made in agricultural

practices and the changes in both local and

global environments. Let’s now take a quick look

at the archaeological site of Coppergate, located

in York, England, to see how the inhabitants were

interacting and using plants in their daily lives.

Yes to Charred!

The majority of plants that have been recovered

from archaeological sites in England dating to the

Anglo-Saxon period are represented by fossils

plants were beingused and eaten such as grains seeds whole fruits parts of

at the time.

Just as plants are vital

to our everyday lives

such asgrains,seeds,whole fruits,parts of

flowers,roots,stems,and nut shells. Even

smaller fossils —pollen,

phytoliths,and starch

Plants

What

by Rachel Brody

Plowing a field in Anglo-Saxon times^37