Advances in morphometrics in archaeobotany

Portillo, M., Ball, T. B., Wallace, M., Murphy, C., Pérez-Díaz, S., Ruiz-Alonso, M., Aceituno, F. J. and López-Sáez, J. A. (2020) Advances in morphometrics in archaeobotany. Environmental Archaeology: the Journal of Human Palaeoecology, 25 (2). pp. 246-256. ISSN 1749-6314 doi: 10.1080/14614103.2019.1569351

Abstract/Summary

Morphometric analysis offers an alternative or augmentation to traditional archaeobotanical methods to address differences within and between plant species and their remains, refining and enhancing taxonomic resolution. Morphometrics, the measurement of size and shape, and the multivariate statistical analysis of generated quantitative variables, have long played a major role in biological research, including plant taxonomy and systematics, although its application in archaeobotany is relatively recent. Over the last few decades there has been an increasing interest in the use of morphometrics for analysing a varied range of archaeological plant materials (mainly seeds, pollen, phytoliths, and starch grains). In particular, morphometrics have contributed to the study of the domestication and spread of many cereals world-wide, as well as that of other taxa including legumes, underground storage organs (USO), and fruits (such as olives, grapes, and dates). This paper reviews current methodologies, recent applications, and advances in the use of morphometrics in archaeobotanical research, discusses its role in exploring major research questions, and suggests possible future directions for its use.

Item Type	Article
URI	https://reading-clone.eprints-hosting.org/id/eprint/81875
Identification Number/DOI	10.1080/14614103.2019.1569351
Refereed	Yes
Divisions	Science > School of Archaeology, Geography and Environmental Science > Department of Archaeology
Publisher	Taylor & Francis
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