CHARCOAL COLLECTIONS OF THE WORLD

Abstract

Charcoal reference collections are very important for identifying unknown charcoal specimens in different contexts (palaeoecological, archaeological, environmental and others) and form an integral part of anthracological studies, which can provide crucial information for researchers of different expertise, as wood anatomy, archaeology, palaeobotany, forestry, forensics, etc. A first inventory on charcoal collections maintained by scientific institutions or private individuals around the world revealed 53 charcoal collections in five continents. There is a high concentration of collections and specimens in Europe, reflecting a better established and longer tradition of charcoal identification in temperate and mediterranean regions. However, research seems to be firmly advancing in other parts of the world, especially in the tropics, where important collections are being established. The great increase observed in the number of existing charcoal collections and their geographical spread in the last years attest to their importance, as well as to the vigour of anthracology in its various approaches. The wood anatomical community is called upon to help fill gaps in this first inventory of charcoal collections.