The Archaeobotany
Laboratory is concerned with the analysis and study
of prehistoric plant materials recovered from archaeological
sites, as well as reconstruction of prehistoric diet patterns
in many areas of the world.
Students interested in this field of anthropology have the
opportunity to work with materials many thousands of years
old from such areas of the world as South and Central America,
Mexico, Israel, Egypt and Europe.
Students with botanical interests and training are encouraged
to take an active part in the analyses of plant materials
recovered from archaeological sites.
From these analyses we are able to speculate as to prehistoric
people's food and economic plant uses, and how these fit their
lifeways.
Other kinds of information from
work in this laboratory include the identification of plant
fibers used in the making of various kinds of prehistoric artifacts
such as basketry, sandals, clothing and matting, among others.
The Archaeobotany Laboratory has large reference collections
of modern and archaeological plant materials for use in its
research activities from many areas of the New and Old Worlds.
Texas A&M University is indeed fortunate in having what
is perhaps the only well-equipped Archaeobotanical Laboratory
anywhere in the entire Southwest.
