The Charred Plant Remains from an Iron Age Site at Kirby Muxloe, Leicestershire (A123.1992)

During excavations in 1993 samples were taken in order to recover charred cereal grains, seeds and other plant remains which may provide evidence of crops, diet or activities on the site in the past. Charred remains are preserved in most soil conditions and were present at this site although the acidic soil conditions resulted in the poor preservation of shell and bone, with the exception of burnt bone which had survived. Charred plant remains result from human activities and included cereals as economically exploited species, so it was hoped that these would complement the information from the nearby waterlogged deposits which reflected the surrounding environment. The pollen provided evidence of the more distant surroundings as well as local vegetation, while the plant macrofossils and insect remains reflected conditions nearby. Some discussion of the evidence from the waterlogged deposits and local economy is included. [Taken from introduction]