Abstract
Recent investigations of a Greco-Roman site at Sais have provided well-preserved archaeobotanical remains within a pile of metal fragments. The remains are compared with comparable modern taxa. The morphology and anatomy are studied using Light microscope (LM), Environmental scanning electron microscope (ESEM) and X-ray computed tomography (CT). To investigate the preservation mode, Energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) analysis and elemental mapping are conducted. Results revealed that the archaeobotanical remains are exhibiting close affinity with modern juniper cones. Although, the studied archaeobotanical remains are buried for more than 2 millenniums, they underwent early stages of silicification and copper mineralization. These results are discussed in relation to other excavated objects in the find and to our knowledge and understanding of daily life in the Greco-Roman period.
Highlights
During the 1990s discoveries of the Supreme Council of Antiquities (SCA) red brick buildings, a HellenisticRoman bath-house and a Hellenistic-Roman bronze hoard were excavated in Sais (Sa el-Hagar)
Preserved archaeobotanicals are very important as they give information about everyday activities, which were rarely discussed in surviving texts, about the practice of producing food, the daily chore of preparing the food and disposing the waste, about the eating habits, about nutrition and health, about social status and character and generally about the crucial role of plants in personal lives[3]
This study aims to identify the excavated archaeobotanical material, illuminate the environmental and archaeological context, to increase our knowledge about its importance and use
Summary
During the 1990s discoveries of the Supreme Council of Antiquities (SCA) red brick buildings, a HellenisticRoman bath-house and a Hellenistic-Roman bronze hoard were excavated in Sais (Sa el-Hagar). The soil of the site is silty c lay[4,5], and the pores are too small and very low oxygen levels exist because of the constant dampness; this provides anaerobic, or almost anaerobic, conditions. Metals if present in the soil, such as copper, silver, and iron, they oxidize, creating metal oxides that are very toxic to bacteria and fungi, increasing preservation possibilities[11]. Other conditions such as waterlogged, arid, low-energy environments or sometimes frozen environments can be preserving for organic r emains[2,12,13]. The study aims to explain the specific preservation mode and to find out the impact of the presence of metal fragments on the preservation mode
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