The micro in the macro: Microscopic treatment of macrobotanical remains for the identification of practices and ways of relating to the vegetal surrounding in the archaeological study of vegetal domestication

Abstract

In order to achieve an in depth understanding of the plant domestication process, dichotomies such as wild-domesticated or gatherer- farmer, which are rooted in its study must be broken off. In this paper is considered that such a rupture should be made first in the conceptual area to establish an appropriated research methodology thereafter. The conceptual breakdown is achieved when human management practices related to plants are considered, which usually are combined in different ways along time. Its recognition in the archaeological record should be made applying different analytical pathways, not only when studying the archaeological context, but also when archaeobotanical remains are being analysed. In the latter, macroscopical analysis used in Argentinean Northwest archaeology have mainly reinforced the dichotomies previously named. The addition of microscopical analysis allows a taxonomical reclassification of macroremains, the achievement of a better resolution in the identification of intermediate or transitional forms and the analysis of characters which are being modified in order to reconstruct in a more precisely way the modalities of relationship between human populations and their plant environment. After analysing archaeobotanical assemblages of C. maxima recovered in two formative sites from Salta province, the presence of ancient wild-weedy-crop complexes derived from management practices which enhanced diversity is stated for the former developments at this region.