Digital Object 2707
Description:
The Fabaceae family includes approximately 16,400 species - including trees, shrubs, herbs and lianas - and is divided into three large subfamilies: Caesalpinoideae, Mimosoideae and Papilonoideae (Espinoza & Melandri 2000). The existence of anatomical similarities between genera, tribes and subfamilies of the Fabaceae makes their taxonomic identification very difficult. This charcoal was classified within this subfamily due to the presence of homocellular rays in its anatomy and the absence of a stratified structure (Espinoza & Melandri 2000).
Transversal plane: Growth ring marked by narrowing of the tracheids, semi-porous wood in which the vessels close to the ring are smaller, vessels rounded, solitary or in groups of 2-3 and paratracheal parenchyma that is vasicentric and short-winged aliform.
Longitudinal Tangential Plane: Rays of 1 to 3 cells wide and 10-15 cells long, absence of stratified structure (Insidewood. 2004-onwards; León, 2001; Richter & Dallwitz, 2000-onwards).
Radial Longitudinal Plane: Homocellular rays (Insidewood. 2004-onwards; León, 2001; Richter & Dallwitz, 2000-onwards).
Transversal plane: Growth ring marked by narrowing of the tracheids, semi-porous wood in which the vessels close to the ring are smaller, vessels rounded, solitary or in groups of 2-3 and paratracheal parenchyma that is vasicentric and short-winged aliform.
Longitudinal Tangential Plane: Rays of 1 to 3 cells wide and 10-15 cells long, absence of stratified structure (Insidewood. 2004-onwards; León, 2001; Richter & Dallwitz, 2000-onwards).
Radial Longitudinal Plane: Homocellular rays (Insidewood. 2004-onwards; León, 2001; Richter & Dallwitz, 2000-onwards).
Method:
The charcoal samples were observed under a reflected light microscope with objectives of 2x, 4x, 20x and 40x. Taxonomic identification was carried out by manual fracture following the three anatomical planes of the wood: transverse, longitudinal tangential and longitudinal radial.
The first stage of the analysis was the anatomical description of the different taxa following the microscopic characteristics defined by A. C. Barefoot and F. W. Hankins (1982) and the IAWA (Wheeler et al. 1989). Once defined, these characteristics were compared with our reference collection (during the excavation campaign wood from 32 surrounding woody species including dry tropical forest trees and shrubs, riverbank species, and mangrove were collected). They were also compared with atlases of anatomy of current woods (Carpio 2003, Espinoza and Melandri 2000, Espinoza and León 2001, León 2002, León and Espinoza 2001); and with specialized publications dedicated to the description of the characteristics of the woods of the study area (Espinoza and Melandri 1999-2000, Lens et al. 2005, León 2001, León 2009, Kukachka 1981, Oskolski 1995).
Finally, several databases were consulted (InsideWood.2004-onwards, Richter and Dallwitz 2002). The complexity of taxonomic identification in this area meant that each of the differentiated taxa was initially described as a morphotype by assigning it an alphabetic code (Type A, B, C etc.), and later, where possible, this morphotype was matched to a particular taxon.
> Parallel to the identification, all types of dendrological characteristics were recorded, including anatomical characteristics and alterations (Marguerie and Hunot 2007, Théry-Parisot et al. 2010) with the aim of characterizing the type of use of wood resources. The recorded data were: the part of the plant used ( stem, branch, root) and/or the part of the stem (heartwood or sapwood) identified by the presence of inclusions such as tyloses or rubber deposits. Other alterations provided information on the combustion process (radial cracks, vitrification, cell collapse, etc.), growth conditions (scars, compartmentalization, reaction wood, etc.) and on the taphonomic processes (fragmentation, erosion, etc.).
The first stage of the analysis was the anatomical description of the different taxa following the microscopic characteristics defined by A. C. Barefoot and F. W. Hankins (1982) and the IAWA (Wheeler et al. 1989). Once defined, these characteristics were compared with our reference collection (during the excavation campaign wood from 32 surrounding woody species including dry tropical forest trees and shrubs, riverbank species, and mangrove were collected). They were also compared with atlases of anatomy of current woods (Carpio 2003, Espinoza and Melandri 2000, Espinoza and León 2001, León 2002, León and Espinoza 2001); and with specialized publications dedicated to the description of the characteristics of the woods of the study area (Espinoza and Melandri 1999-2000, Lens et al. 2005, León 2001, León 2009, Kukachka 1981, Oskolski 1995).
Finally, several databases were consulted (InsideWood.2004-onwards, Richter and Dallwitz 2002). The complexity of taxonomic identification in this area meant that each of the differentiated taxa was initially described as a morphotype by assigning it an alphabetic code (Type A, B, C etc.), and later, where possible, this morphotype was matched to a particular taxon.
> Parallel to the identification, all types of dendrological characteristics were recorded, including anatomical characteristics and alterations (Marguerie and Hunot 2007, Théry-Parisot et al. 2010) with the aim of characterizing the type of use of wood resources. The recorded data were: the part of the plant used ( stem, branch, root) and/or the part of the stem (heartwood or sapwood) identified by the presence of inclusions such as tyloses or rubber deposits. Other alterations provided information on the combustion process (radial cracks, vitrification, cell collapse, etc.), growth conditions (scars, compartmentalization, reaction wood, etc.) and on the taphonomic processes (fragmentation, erosion, etc.).
Excavation campaign:
2008
Record type:
Archaeological sample
Context-based browsing of El Caño repository
Archaeological site:
El Caño
Operation:
Operation 1
Stratigraphic unit type:
Fill
Stratigraphic unit (finds):
010
Finds-based browsing of El Caño repository
Samples
Type of material:
Charcoal
Sample source:
Scattered deposit
Taxonomy of specimens
Family:
Fabaceae-Mimosoideae tp. 2
Number of fragments:
11
Digital Object 2707