Matthew P. Sayre Libri

This volume contributes to the emerging topic of social paleoethnobotany with a series of papers exploring dynamic aspects of past social life, particularly the day-to-day practices and politics of procuring, preparing, and consuming plants. The contributors to this volume illustrate how one can bridge differences between the natural and social sciences through the more socially-focused interpretations of botanical datasets. The chapters in this volume draw on a diversity of plant-derived datasets, macrobotanical, microbotanical, and molecular, which contribute to general paleoethnobotanical practice today. They also carefully consider the contexts in which the plant remains were recovered. These studies illustrate that the richest interpretations come from projects that are able to consider the widest range of data types, particularly as they aim to move beyond simple descriptions of food items and environmental settings. 0The authors in this volume address several themes including: the collection of wild resources, the domestication of crops and spread of agriculture, the role of plant remains in questions regarding domestic life, ritual, and gender as well as the broader implications of a socially-engaged paleoethnobotany. These studies point a path forward for the constantly evolving field of paleoethnobotany, one that is methodologically rigorous and theoretically engaged. Together, these papers shed light on ways in which the specialized analysis of plant remains can contribute to theory building and advancing archaeological understanding of past lifeways

This volume contributes to the emerging field of social paleoethnobotany through a series of papers that explore the dynamic aspects of past social life, particularly the practices and politics surrounding the procurement, preparation, and consumption of plants. The contributors demonstrate how to bridge the gap between natural and social sciences by offering socially-focused interpretations of botanical datasets. The chapters utilize a variety of plant-derived datasets, including macrobotanical, microbotanical, and molecular data, while considering the contexts in which plant remains were recovered. Rich interpretations arise from projects that encompass a wide range of data types, moving beyond mere descriptions of food items and environmental settings. Key themes addressed include the collection of wild resources, crop domestication, the role of plant remains in domestic life, ritual, and gender, as well as the broader implications of a socially-engaged paleoethnobotany. These studies pave the way for the evolving field, emphasizing methodological rigor and theoretical engagement. Collectively, the papers illuminate how specialized analysis of plant remains can enhance theory building and advance archaeological understanding of past lifeways.