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Aloha Ksenija,

See the attached paper for a simple method with excellent results that does not require the long resin embedding procedure.

All the best,
Jeff

----- Original Message -----
From: Ksenija Borojevic <[log in to unmask]>
Date: Wednesday, July 6, 2011 5:50 am
Subject: Charred specimens thin sections
To: [log in to unmask]

> Hello all,
>
> Does any one have experience with embedding charred plant specimens, e.g., wood charcoal and/or grains and making thin sections (microscopic slides) to facilitate identification of the minute plant remains?
>
> Thank you,
>
>

> Ksenija Borojevic

> Assistant Professor

>  

> Department of Archaeology

> Boston University

> 675 Commonwealth Ave (Suite 345B)

> Boston, MA 02215

> Phone: 617 358-1649

> Fax: 617 353-6800


>   
>
> On Mon, Jun 20, 2011 at 1:20 PM, Asouti, Eleni <[log in to unmask])">[log in to unmask]> wrote:

> Dear all,

>  

> Link to a new publication (currently in press, to appear in print in September)

>  

> http://www.sciencedirect.com/science?_ob=ArticleListURL&_method=list&_ArticleListID=1772845809&_sort=r&_st=13&view=c&_acct=C000012098&_version=1&_urlVersion=0&_userid=145085&md5=738cdea2e753b5698aa328833a8c0208&searchtype=a
>

> 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

>  

> Llorenç Picornell Gelabert, Eleni Asouti, Ethel Allué Martí

>  

> Journal of Anthropological Archaeology, In Press, Corrected Proof, Available online 14 June 2011

>  

>  

> Abstract: In archaeological literature, the study of trees and wood remains is a topic of relatively marginal interest, especially compared to texts on crops and human–animal relations. However, charcoal is the most frequent botanical remain found in archaeological sites. Charcoal analysis can therefore play a major role in the development of studies in both landscape and palaeoethnobotanical reconstruction. The majority of the archaeological charcoal assemblages reflect the exploitation of wood as an energy source (fuel). The archaeological study of firewood selection has been predominantly developed from ‘‘eco-utilitarian’’ or ‘‘subsistence economy’’ perspectives, but has not yet considered fuel collection and use as one of the most enduring categories of human–environment interactions, nor has archaeology looked into its potential as a source of empirical information on past perceptions of, and interactions with, ancient landscapes. The aim of this paper is to expand previous archaeological work on the interpretation of charcoal macroremains through the study of firewood collection as a historically constituted, socially mediated and archaeologically observable landscape practice. In order to achieve this, we present an ethnoarchaeological 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.

>  

>  

> If anyone wishes to receive a copy of the .pdf file please contact me off list.

>  

> With best wishes,

>  

> Eleni

>  

> __________________________

>  

> Dr. Eleni Asouti
> Lecturer in Environmental Archaeology

>  

> Research Projects Coordinator

> Director of Studies (Geography and Archaeology)

>  

> Associate Editor, Archaeological and Anthropological Sciences

> http://www.springer.com/earth+sciences+and+geography/journal/12520

>  

>  

> School of Archaeology, Classics and Egyptology

> University of Liverpool

> Hartley Building, Brownlow Street
> Liverpool L69 3GS, UK

> Tel: (+44) 151 79 45284
> SACE Fax: (+44) 151 79 45057

> E-mail: [log in to unmask])" target="1">[log in to unmask]

>  

> Personal website: http://www.liv.ac.uk/sace/organisation/people/asouti.htm

>  

> CHARCOAL ANALYSIS WEB: http://pcwww.liv.ac.uk/~easouti/

>  

>  

>  

>