macroremains

Macroremains are macroscopic organic remains preserved in archaeological deposits that can be observed with the naked eye. They include plant materials such as seeds, fruits, nutshells, and fragments of wood, as well as animal materials such as bones, teeth, and shells. Macroremains are distinguished from microremains like pollen, starch grains, and phytoliths, which require microscopy to study. They are central to archaeobotany and zooarchaeology and help reconstruct past diets, economies, technologies, and environments.

Plant macroremains are recovered from contexts such as hearths, storage pits, middens, and pit fills. They are commonly preserved when charred, mineralized, or waterlogged. Animal macroremains include bones, teeth, antlers, shells, and sometimes preserved skin or hide fragments, stored in similar contexts. Recovery methods include flotation, which separates charred plant remains from bulk soil, as well as dry and wet sieving and hand-picking. Identification relies on comparative collections, morphology, and, when possible, reference analogues. Radiocarbon dating can be applied to dated seeds or bones, either directly or from associated materials.

Macroremains yield direct evidence of agricultural crops (such as cereals and pulses) and domesticated or hunted animals, providing insights into diet, seasonality, labor organization, trade, and land use. They also inform reconstructions of past environments and climate. Limitations include taphonomic biases (preferential preservation of charred plant material or dense bones), uneven sampling, and taxonomic ambiguity. Accurate interpretation depends on rigorous collection, processing, and identification by specialists and well-curated reference collections.