The Destructive Potential of Earthworms on the Archaeobotanical Record

Abstract

Earthworms are widely recognized as important agents in the formation, preservation, and alteration of archaeological sites. I conducted experiments that test the ability of earthworms (Lumbricus rubellus) to ingest and subsequently destroy carbonized seeds (Tapaver somniferum) under controlled settings, designed to reflect field conditions during feeding or burrowing. Results suggest modest seed breakage rates at short time scales that may result in long-term selective removal of some small (< 2 mm) seeds from the archaeobotanical record.