SNN112823 - A Stroll through the Park: Evaluating the usefulness of Phytolith and Starch Remains found on medieval sherds from Wicken, Northamptonshire, England

Survey artifacts are used by a variety of archaeologists studying any number of interesting topics. The focus of this masters thesis is to test the usefulness of paleoethnobotanical remains found on artifacts recovered during archaeological survey and to study food consumption and production patterns in medieval England. Specifically phytolith and starch grain analysis was used to determine the level of environmental contamination on fieldwalking and excavated artifacts from the medieval period in the parish of Wicken, Northamptonshire, England. In addition, a comparative collection of phytolith and starch grains found in medieval foods and weeds was created. Particular emphasis was placed upon looking for wheat, barley, oats, rye, and legume phytoliths and starch grains. The usefulness and level of contamination was determined by comparing survey artifacts and surface soil samples from Wicken with non-contaminated excavated artifacts from nearby Wyton, Cambridgeshire. The microremains from the artifacts and soil samples were examined under a microscope using standardized processing and counting methods devised at the MU paleoethnobotany lab. In addition, the phytoliths and starch grains found in the soils and artifacts from Wicken and Wyton were compared to the medieval historical records for Northamptonshire and Cambridgeshire so as to better understand human consumption patterns in medieval England. Finally, the residues from the survey artifacts will be used to gain a better understanding of the relationship between the manuring hypothesis proposed by R. Jones and the development of the openfield system.