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Dear Jean, Thanks for the information..as we also find a fair number of Euphorbia in Greek sites! Would you or any other person in the list have Pujol, B., Gigot, G., Laurent, G., Pinheiro-Kluppel, M., Elias, M., Hossaert-McKey, M., McKey, D., 2002. Germination ecology of cassava, Manihot esculenta Crantz, Euphorbiaceae, in traditional agroecosystems: Seed and seedling biology of a vegetatively propagated domesticated plant. Economic Botany 56, 366-379. in pdf?? Thank you, Anaya ____________________________________________________________________________ ___ Anaya Sarpaki, M.A., PhD. Archaeologist - Archaeobotanist, Independent scholar, 137 Tsikalarion Rd., Tsikalaria, Souda,73200 Crete, Greece. Tel: +30 28210 81641 Fax: +30 28210 28452 Mobile: +30 6974310043 e-mail: [log in to unmask] From: The archaeobotany mailing list [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Jean Kennedy Sent: Monday, February 27, 2012 3:30 AM To: [log in to unmask] Subject: Re: Help with identifications. Please! For discussion and more references on dispersal of Euphorbiaceae seeds by ants, see Pujol, B., Gigot, G., Laurent, G., Pinheiro-Kluppel, M., Elias, M., Hossaert-McKey, M., McKey, D., 2002. Germination ecology of cassava, Manihot esculenta Crantz, Euphorbiaceae, in traditional agroecosystems: Seed and seedling biology of a vegetatively propagated domesticated plant. Economic Botany 56, 366-379. cheers, Jean On 26/02/2012 2:54 PM, Matthew Prebble wrote: I concur with Mark. I worked on an archaeological deposit in French Polynesia where I located some Ricinus communis seeds (Castor beans also in Euphorbiaceae). After breaking some I found them to be modern and I even managed to sprout one of the seeds. I was confused as to how these seeds entered into a layer dated to around 700 yr BP. Castor beans have small elaiosomes (oily appendages) attached, set to attract invertebrates. Exotic ants are hyper abundant in French Polynesia and I now think the beans were buried in a cache brought in by ants. It looks as though these Euphorb seeds also have these appendages. It is still concerning when you find contamination like this in any archaeological setting. I'm particularly concerned when more and more microfossil research is done on sediments clearly disturbed by microfauna. Matt -- Image removed by sender. image002.jpg Dr Matthew Prebble Research Fellow Department of Archaeology & Natural History School of Culture History & Languages College of Asia & Pacific The Australian National University Ph +61 2 61254342 -- Dr Jean Kennedy Visiting Fellow Archaeology and Natural History School of Culture, History and Language College of Asia and the Pacific Australian National University 0401 177 092(mobile)