The 4th IMAA workshop took place at the University of Reading on 16th -17th February 2019 .
The aim of the workshop is to bring together specialists in geoarchaeology, NPPs, palynology, plant macroremains, and phytoliths who are working in universities, major heritage organisations, and commercial archaeology companies in order to share research and skills. The 2 day workshop included presentations, poster sessions and microscope sessions.
Lively discussions over lunch and drinks
The 2019 themes for oral presentations and talks were:
- Ethnographic approaches in archaeobotany
- Environmental archives in archaeobotany
- Experiencing woodlands past and present
- Plant use in the Middle Ages
- Taphonomy of macro and microbotanical assemblages
- Wetlands as palaeobotanical archives
Phil Jardine, University of Münster presenting on the chemical analysis of pollen and spores
Lara Gonzalez Carretero, UCL /MOLA presenting on the micro-analysis of archaeological food products
There were microscopy sessions on:
- Charcoal and charred remains (led by Cathie Barnett)
- Wetlands (led by Dan Young) including tropical pollen (with Frank Mayle)
- Context is Key (led by Rowena Banerjea)
3D printed pollen grains produced as part of the project led by UoR PhD researcher, Oliver Wilson
Busy microscopy sessions with participants examining plant macroremains, micromorphology thin-sections and pollen
Discussion sessions were held on:
- Phytolith extraction methods (chaired by Marta Portillo)
- Environmental archives (chaired by Paul Flintoft)
Lisa Lodwick, University of Oxford, presenting on her research using environmental archives
On Saturday lunchtime, participants took part in the Whiteknights Tree Walk on campus.
2019 Organising committee:
Dr Rowena Banerjea
Dr Catherine Barnett
Dr Dan Young
Josie Handley
Paul Flintoft
2019 Sponsors:
