Dear Francoise
Have you looked at immature Corylus avellana nuts? I have had quite large numbers of fruits like this together with mature nuts and nut fragments from a palaeochannel site in North West England. I also hazel catkins and stamens in the deposits.
 I decided that they were immature hazel nuts mine were waterlogged not charred and of Mesolithic and Neolithic in age.
Best Wishes
Elizabeth

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From: "Françoise Toulemonde" <[log in to unmask]>
To: [log in to unmask]
Sent: Monday, 25 November, 2013 2:29:00 PM
Subject: help for identification

Dear colleagues,

Have you ever come across these fruits? I have recently found them in
different states, charred and waterlogged, in two different settlements,
far away from each other.
I found one charred in a roman pit, et many others waterlogged in wells
dated from Early Bronze age to Late Iron Age. They look a little bit
like nuts or acorns not completely developped and flat. I've attached 4
pictures of them: picture 1 and 2 show the charred one and picture 3,
the waterlogged ones. In the picture 4, the charred one has been  added
on the right to the waterlogged specimens.
Thanks  for your help!
Françoise

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Françoise Toulemonde
CRAVO
et UMR 7209 "Archéozoologie, archéobotanique: sociétés, pratiques, environnement"
Museum National d'Histoire Naturelle
55 rue Buffon
75005 Paris
MOB: +33 6 82 84 40 35



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Elizabeth Huckerby
Environmental Manager
Oxford Archaeology North
Mill 3
Moor Lane Mills
Moor Lane
Lancaster  LA1 1QD
Tel 01524 848666
Direct dial 01524 880218