biofact

Biofact is a term used to describe a living or formerly living biological material that yields information about biological processes, environments, or human interactions. The usage spans archaeology, biology, ecology, and forensics. In archaeology and related fields, biofacts are natural remains recovered from sites, such as seeds, fruits, nutshells, pollen, wood, bones, teeth, hair, and shells. They differ from artifacts, which are human-made objects, and from features, which are non-portable indicators like hearths. Biofacts are valuable for understanding diet, domestication, agriculture, environment, climate, seasonality, and trade. They are often analyzed alongside paleobotanical and zooarchaeological materials. Methods include morphological identification, radiocarbon dating, stable isotope analysis, pollen analysis, phytolith analysis, and ancient DNA when preservation permits.

In biology and forensics, the term may refer more broadly to biological material used as evidence or material for study, such as tissue samples, cells, or preserved specimens. The concept underlines the information-bearing nature of organic remains, regardless of preservation state.

Challenges include preservation bias, contamination, and interpretive uncertainty. Proper documentation, standardized collection, and contextual recording are essential to maximize the utility of biofacts.