Hello,

Interesting sample - that bifurcating venation shouts ferns, or at least fairly primitive plants, to me.

Sorry but the drawing is mis-leading - the tip and the venation are just wrong and I wouldn't actually join the lamina to the petiole either as that is not clear in the photograph. 

From the photo - I wondered about Osmunda regalis although (photo from one in my my garden attached - apologies for filthy thumb nail but I've been sectioning wet archaeological wood this afternoon) the venation is finer and the pinnule not as long as yours. It's much more like some ancient relatives of the Osmundaceae  such as Todites but they're all Jurassic in Europe or Todea - that's in present day Australasia. 

It's a lovely specimen anyway and hope someone else can identify it clearly for you.

with best wishes
Jacqui
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Jacqui Huntley
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From: The archaeobotany mailing list [[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Daniele Arobba [[log in to unmask]]
Sent: 29 July 2015 16:02
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: impression on neolithic shard

On the fracture of a shard, from archaeological level (Early Neolithic) of ligurian cave (Italy), was found a imprint of leaf blade (9,1x3,5mm) oblong-lanceolate shaped with pinnate veined, with weakly serrated margin with a petiole 2,3mm length (attached images). It is related to a species of Angiosperm Dicotyledone. Can you help me to find out the precise taxonomy? Best wishes, Daniele Arobba
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Prof. Daniele Arobba
Direttore Museo Archeologico del Finale
Chiostri di Santa Caterina
I-17024 Finale Ligure Borgo SV (Italy)
Tel. 39 019 690020 Fax. 39 019 681022
[log in to unmask] - www.museoarcheofinale.it
https://museoarcheofinale.academia.edu/DanieleArobba
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