Ethics in archaeobotany: identifying current issues and initiating a declaration of principles

Vegetation History and Archaeobotany

Abstract

Abstract This article presents the first systematic assessment of ethical concerns specific to archaeobotanical research, focusing on principles and values. Conducted by an international group of archaeobotanists, the study used an anonymous online survey to document experiences and perceptions within the archaeobotanical community with the aim of raising awareness, identifying prevalent good practices and noting points for improvement. The questionnaire included ten thematic blocks and 63 main questions that covered regulations and guidelines, archaeobotany in excavations, funding, credit and authorship, intellectual property and right to access material, engagement with local communities, research obstacles, misconduct, ecological footprint, and dissemination of research results. We received responses from 114 participants, and the results highlight key challenges, including limited systematic recovery and study of plant remains, scarce funding, unclear decision-making authority, recurrent research misconduct, insufficient benefits for local communities, and low visibility of archaeobotanical research in dissemination and outreach. Building on these findings, we propose a declaration of principles tailored to archaeobotany, outlining the collective commitments of our community. This framework emphasizes safeguarding archaeological plant remains, ethical and rigorous research practices, and equitable participation. By adhering to these principles, archaeobotanists can promote scientific knowledge whilst fostering inclusivity, transparency, and respect for all individuals and communities involved or affected by our research. In this way, the initiative aims to strengthen archaeobotany as a discipline and cultivate a more ethical, inclusive, and collaborative research culture for both current and future generations of archaeobotanists.

Authors 17

1. Amaia Arranz‐Otaegui corresponding

   University of the Basque Country

   Affiliation as printed

   Department of Geography, Prehistory and Archaeology, University of the Basque Country, Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain

2. Filipe Costa Vaz

   Department of Culture and Tourism Abu Dhabi

   Affiliation as printed

   Historic Environment, Department of Culture and Tourism, Abu Dhabi, UAE

3. Marian Berihuete‐Azorín

   Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona

   Affiliation as printed

   Department of Prehistory, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain

4. Welmoed A. Out Aachen Archol

   Archol (Netherlands)

   Affiliation as printed

   Archol (Archeologisch Onderzoek Leiden), Leiden, The Netherlands

   Moesgaard, Højbjerg, Denmark

5. Stéphanie C. Bodin

   Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique · Aix-Marseille Université · Institut Méditerranéen de Biodiversité et d'Ecologie Marine et Continentale · Institut de Recherche pour le Développement

   Affiliation as printed

   IMBE, Aix Marseille Université, Avignon Université, CNRS, IRD, Aix en Provence, France

6. Naomi F. Miller
   Affiliation as printed

   Penn Museum, Near East Section, Philadelphia, USA

7. Claudia Speciale

   Institut Català de Paleoecologia Humana i Evolució Social

   Affiliation as printed

   IPHES-CERCA, Tarragona, Spain

8. João Pedro Tereso

   University of Lisbon · Universidade Nova de Lisboa

   Affiliation as printed

   IEM – Institute for Medieval Studies, NOVA University of Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal

9. Sabrina Bianco

   Universitat de les Illes Balears

   Affiliation as printed

   ArqueoUIB Research Group, Department of Historical Sciences and Art Theory, University of Balearic Islands, Palma, Spain

10. Maria Rousou

    Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique · Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle · Archéozoologie et Archéobotanique · American School of Classical Studies at Athens

    Affiliation as printed

    Malcolm H. Wiener Laboratory for Archaeological Science, American School of Classical Studies, Athens, Greece

    UMR 7209 BioArch - BioArchéologie, Interactions Sociétés Environnements (Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle-Centre National de La Recherche Scientifique), Paris, France

11. India Ella Dilkes-Hall

    Griffith University

    Affiliation as printed

    Griffith Centre for Social and Cultural Research, Griffith University, Brisbane, Australia

12. Shinya Shoda

    Nara National Research Institute for Cultural Properties

    Affiliation as printed

    International Cooperation Section, Nara National Research Institute for Cultural Properties, Nara, Japan

13. Chantel E. White

    University of Pennsylvania

    Affiliation as printed

    Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology, Center for the Analysis of Archaeological Materials, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, USA

14. Maia Dedrick

    Santa Clara University

    Affiliation as printed

    Department of Anthropology, Santa Clara University, Santa Clara, CA, USA

15. Smiti Nathan
    Affiliation as printed

    Anthico LLC, Baltimore, MD, USA

16. Sheahan Bestel

    University of Glasgow

    Affiliation as printed

    University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom

17. Carlos G. Santiago-Marrero

    Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas · Institución Milá y Fontanals de Investigación en Humanidades

    Affiliation as printed

    Human Ecology and Archaeology (HUMANE), IMF, CSIC, Barcelona, Spain