C. J. Stevens, S. Nixon, M. A. Murray, and D. Q. Fuller (eds): Archaeology of African Plant Use

Abstract

This volume is the outcome of the Fifth International Workshop for African Archaeobotany, held in London in July 2006. About half of the papers are those presented at theWorkshop. In addition, about an equal number of papers commissioned carefully by the editors have been included to provide a comprehensive picture of the entire field of African archaeobotany including plant use. The timelapse in bringing out this volume may be attributable to the decision of the editors to make this volume a comprehensive one on African archaeobotany. The editors appear to have succeeded in their efforts. There are 23 chapters in the volume. It has been edited by C.J. Stevens (Research Associate, Institute of Archaeology, University College, London), S. Nixon (Associate, Institute of Archaeology, UCL), M. A. Murray (Archaeobotanist, University of Copenhagen), and D.Q. Fuller (Professor of Archaeobotany, Institute of Archaeology, U.C.L). The IWAA (International Workshops on Archaeobotany) have been organized once every 3 years since 1994. All their proceedings have been published. Each of these meetings has brought in newer approaches, broader perspectives, and/or different realms into the studies on paleoand archaeobotany of Africa. At the same time, they have revealed the stark fact that half the continent of Africa continues to remain totally unexplored, and even in the regions where some work has been done, only minimal work has been carried out., except in two countries/regions—Egypt and Inland Niger Delta (IND) in west Africa. Chapter 1 gives a synopsis of these Workshops. Africa, with 30 million km area, is the second largest and second most populous continent in the world after Asia, with 20 % land area of the world and 1.1 billion population, against Asia’s 30 % land area and 4.3 billion people. It stretches north to south from 36 N and 34 S Latitude. It encompasses a very wide range of physical features and ecological regions comprising deserts, including the Sahara, savannas, subtropical flatlands, woodlands, and tropical forests. Africa was the home of the first hominids. Egypt in northeastern Africa is one of the earliest centres of human civilization. However, most archaeologists assume that Egypt is a ‘quite separate realm’. There are 23 chapters in the book. The first chapter is an ‘editorial’ by the authors of the volume. It first gives a brief historical account of the early botanical and genetic studies done on African plants origins beginning with Vavilov. It is followed by a more detailed and analytical account of the archaeological studies done in Africa till date. This includes also accounts of all the IWAA Workshops held so far. They reveal the very low intensity and coverage of the studies done in the continent except in Egypt, basing it N. M. Nayar (&) JN Tropical Botanic Garden and Research Institute, Palode, Trivandrum 695 582, Kerala, India e-mail: nayar.nm@gmail.com