Archaeobotany in an era of change and challenge: potential and fragility of macro- and micro-remains

Abstract

Apart from helping us understand past communities’ response to climate change and their plant management resilience mechanisms, archaeobotanical information may also serve as a basis to rethink our economic system and implement new solutions to current challenges (e.g. re-adopt forgotten crops or implement circular economy models). Already fragile by nature, the integrity of archaeobotanical heritage is affected by current climate events, such as changes in temperature and precipitation. One consequence is the loss of precious knowledge about past economies and human-environment interactions and its potential to inform us on questions relevant to the present and future. With the Iberian Peninsula as an example, we present a thoughtful insight into the manifold kind of information derived from archaeobotanical assemblages and the harm in losing it. Finally, we call for action to fight against climate change while drawing archaeologists’ attention to the importance of protecting archaeobotanical heritage.