Philippa Ryan, Scientist, British Museum Archaeobotany is the
study of ancient plant remains, and I joined the field team at
Amara West in Sudan earlier this year to collect samples for
archaeobotanical analysis. Charred plant materials were
retrieved on-site from sediments through dry-sieving and
flotation. These samples were subsequently brought back to the
British Museum for further sorting and identification. At the
moment I am analysing the charred seeds and fruits with Caroline
Cartwright, who is also analysing the wood charcoal. The
macroscopic plant remains are analysed using both a stereo
microscope and a SEM (scanning electron microscope). Charred
remains found so far include cereal grains (wheat and barley)
and crop-processing waste, fruits such as figs and a wide range
of wild plants. I am also processing sediment samples to extract
phytoliths (microscopic plant remains), which are formed when
soluble silica taken up in groundwater by plants is deposited
within and between certain plant cells. The