The study of ancient pollen: Issues and strategies in the laboratory

Abstract

In the Paleoethnobotanical and Paleoenvironmental Laboratory of the Institute of Anthropological Research, a study of botanical remains recovered from archaeological excavations, conducted mainly by UNAM researchers and other institutions, is being carried out. Seeds, charcoal and ancient pollen are found among the main botanical remains. Through experience, it has been shown that the micro-remain recovery and concentration of the pollen material depends on the quality of the substrate. We have implemented an extraction technique that attempts to concentrate old pollen material. Experimentally, it has enabled us to concentrate old pollen samples from soil profiles of an ancient river, north of the Basin of Mexico.