International Protocol for the Study of Amorphous Charred Objects in Archaeology (IPSACO 1.0)
Vegetation History and Archaeobotany
Abstract
Abstract Archaeobotanists around the world increasingly recognise that, alongside commonly studied materials such as seeds, fruits, wood charcoal, and chaff, archaeobotanical samples also contain fragments of carbonised organic (and sometimes inorganic) matter that vary in shape and often display an amorphous structure. These amorphous charred objects (ACO) are emerging as a novel proxy within the broader field of plant macroremain studies in Archaeology. Recent research has demonstrated that ACOs can yield invaluable information on key aspects of past human life, including diet and cooking practices, the exploitation of “missing” food resources, such as roots and tubers, and the origins of widely consumed foods like bread and beer. However, as a relatively new field of research, the study of ACOs still faces significant methodological challenges, foremost among them the absence of universally accepted analytical procedures, shared terminology, and classification systems. In this paper, we have brought together a group of international experts to address these limitations by creating the first “International Protocol for the Study of Amorphous Charred Objects” in Archaeology (IPSACO 1.0). This protocol is designed to provide both specialists and researchers seeking to become familiar with the study of ACOs with the necessary tools to ensure standardised analysis, description, and interpretation of these materials, regardless of their category, chronology, or geographical context. We regard IPSACO 1.0 as a key step towards establishing a robust methodological framework for the analysis of ACOs in archaeological research. This first version of the protocol is intended as a living document: it will be revised, expanded, and refined over time to incorporate new analytical procedures and tools, and to ensure that data generated in ACO studies is standardised, transparent, and reusable within the archaeobotanical community and beyond.
Authors 25
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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
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Affiliation as printed
Department of Biology, University of Washington, Box 351800, Seattle, WA, 98195-1800, USA
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Affiliation as printed
Department of Archaeology, BioArCh, University of York, York, UK
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University of the Basque Country
Affiliation as printed
Department of Geography, Prehistory and Archaeology, University of the Basque Country, Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain
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Affiliation as printed
Department of Anthropology, University of Toronto Mississauga, Mississauga, Canada
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Interdisciplinary Center for Archaeology and the Evolution of Human Behaviour · University of Algarve
Affiliation as printed
Faculdade de Ciências Humanas E Sociais, Universidade Do Algarve, Campus de Gambelas, Faro, Portugal
ICArEHB, Interdisciplinary Center for Archaeology and Evolution Human Behaviour,, Universidade Do Algarve, Campus de Gambelas, Faro, Portugal
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Affiliation as printed
Faculty of Archaeology, Leiden University, Leiden, The Netherlands
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Nara National Research Institute for Cultural Properties
Affiliation as printed
Nara National Research Institute for Cultural Properties, Nara, Japan
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Affiliation as printed
College of Southern Nevada, Las Vegas, USA
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Affiliation as printed
Department of Archaeology, Prehistory and Ancient History, University of València, València, Spain
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Affiliation as printed
School of Archaeology, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
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University of Exeter · University of Cambridge
Affiliation as printed
Department of Archaeology and History, University of Exeter, 23 N Park Road, Exeter, EX4 4QE, UK
Jesus College, University of Cambridge, Jesus Lane, Cambridge, CB5 8BQ, UK
McDonald Institute for Archaeological Research, University of Cambridge, Downing Street, Cambridge, CB2 3ER, UK
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Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona
Affiliation as printed
Department of Prehistory, Autonomous University of Barcelona, Cerdanyola del Vallés, Spain
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Affiliation as printed
Institute of Archaeology, University College London, London, UK
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Affiliation as printed
Institute of Archaeology, University College London, London, UK
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Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas
Affiliation as printed
Instituto de Ecorregiones Andinas, CONICET/UNJu & Centro de Estudios E Investigaciones Botánicas, FCA-UNJu, Jujuy, Argentina
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Université Toulouse - Jean Jaurès
Affiliation as printed
Université Toulouse Jean Jaurès, PLH, 31100, Toulouse, France
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University of the Basque Country
Affiliation as printed
Department of Geography, Prehistory and Archaeology, University of the Basque Country, Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain
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Affiliation as printed
Department of Archaeology, Prehistory and Ancient History, University of València, València, Spain
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Aarhus University · National Museum of Denmark
Affiliation as printed
Department of Agroecology, Aarhus University, Flakkebjerg, Slagelse, Denmark
Department of Environmental Archaeology and Materials Science, National Museum of Denmark, Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark
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Affiliation as printed
Department of Agroecology, Aarhus University, Flakkebjerg, Slagelse, Denmark
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Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique · Université Clermont Auvergne · Laboratoire de Géographie Physique et Environnementale · Université de Limoges
Affiliation as printed
Université Clermont Auvergne, CNRS, INRAP, GEOLAB, 63000, Clermont-Ferrand, France
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Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique · Université Clermont Auvergne · Laboratoire de Géographie Physique et Environnementale · Université de Limoges
Affiliation as printed
Université Clermont Auvergne, CNRS, GEOLAB, 63000, Clermont-Ferrand, France
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Affiliation as printed
IsoTOPIK Lab, Department of History, Geography and Communication, University of Burgos, 09001, Burgos, Spain
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Affiliation as printed
IsoTOPIK Lab, Department of History, Geography and Communication, University of Burgos, 09001, Burgos, Spain
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