Digital Object 2711
Description:
20 charcoal fragments belonging to Rhizophora sp.
Transversal plane. Indistinct growth rings. The wood has a diffuse porosity in the ring with the vessels isolated or in short radial rows of 2-3 (-4) some clustered with abundant tyloses (Insidewood. 2004-onwards; León, 2001; Richter & Dallwitz, 2000-onwards).
Longitudinal Tangential Plane. Heterocellular and homocellular rays of procumbent cells 1-5 (-7) cells wide (Fig. 2); heterocellular rays have square or erect cells restricted to marginal rows; it presents scalariform intervessel pits (Insidewood. 2004-onwards; Leon, 2001; Richter & Dallwitz, 2000-onwards).
Radial Longitudinal Plane. The perforations are scalariform of 3-9 (-17) bars, and have simple pits at the vessel-ray intersections (Insidewood. 2004-onwards; Leon, 2001; Richter & Dallwitz, 2000-onwards).
Transversal plane. Indistinct growth rings. The wood has a diffuse porosity in the ring with the vessels isolated or in short radial rows of 2-3 (-4) some clustered with abundant tyloses (Insidewood. 2004-onwards; León, 2001; Richter & Dallwitz, 2000-onwards).
Longitudinal Tangential Plane. Heterocellular and homocellular rays of procumbent cells 1-5 (-7) cells wide (Fig. 2); heterocellular rays have square or erect cells restricted to marginal rows; it presents scalariform intervessel pits (Insidewood. 2004-onwards; Leon, 2001; Richter & Dallwitz, 2000-onwards).
Radial Longitudinal Plane. The perforations are scalariform of 3-9 (-17) bars, and have simple pits at the vessel-ray intersections (Insidewood. 2004-onwards; Leon, 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:
Deposit
Stratigraphic unit (finds):
039
Finds-based browsing of El Caño repository
Samples
Type of material:
Charcoal
Sample source:
Post hole
Taxonomy of specimens
Vernacular name:
Mangrove
Family:
Rhizophoraceae
Genus:
Rhizophora sp.
Number of fragments:
20
Digital Object 2711