Research Focus
Ultimately the RLEA is focused on understanding how human-environment interactions shaped the evolutionary and cultural trajectory of our species. However, botanical evidence is often a limiting factor to such ambitious aims. Accordingly, the RLEA is currently seeking to address the issue of limited botanical data sets via two research projects. First, we are developing a ground-breaking integrated Machine Learning (ML) analysis workflow system for the identification and analysis of phytolith remains, which will help us to build uniquely ‘big’ (thousands of samples verses tens of samples) paleoethnobotanical datasets, allowing us to analyse people-plant interactions at regional scales. Second, we are building on the recent discovery of archaeological starch spherulites, and developing the foundational understandings necessary for the application of this new paleoethnobotanical remain. Starch spherulites form when the amylose from starch recrystallizes in spherulitic morphology. This requires processing (mainly heat, although pH levels do impact this dynamic) and an aqueous environment (water). This technique has radical implications for our ability to understand human foodways and evolution by helping us uncover otherwise elusive evidence of cooking, and particularly boiling of starchy foods deep into human prehistory.
These advances will allow RLEA researchers to layer a diverse range of paleoethnobotanical and paleoenvironmental evidence, employing a powerful, complementary, and corroborative analysis arsenal to their research.
Current RLEA Research Projects
Exciting New Research
Lachlan has recently been awarded a research fellowship grant through the University of Toronto Archaeology Center to support upcoming work with Dr. Donald Butler. This research focuses on developing understandings of how growth/collapse cycles in transnational exchange network shaped emergent rural economies along the Incense Road in the Negev Desert, Israel between the 3rd century BCE and 8th century CE. The Incense Road connecting Arabia and the Mediterranean was established as the main artery for delivering goods such as frankincense, perfumes, oils, and fish from production canters in Arabia to the Mediterranean.