Assessment of samples from medieval deposits from ten excavations in Aberdeen: plant remains and the nature of the deposits

An assessment is presented of the nature of the plant macrofossil content and general nature of the deposit concerned for a total of 91 samples from ten sites, selected from 292 samples excavated from thirteen sites in Aberdeen in the period from the late 1970s to early 1990s. Some samples consisted of no more than 'spot finds' of wood or charcoal, others of sediment with a variable content of macrofossil plant remains preserved by charring or waterlogging. Most prominent in the samples examined were the remains of material perhaps most likely to have been imported for fuel—peat and heather (perhaps partly from turves), though with at least one example of material thought to represent grass sods. Food remains were rather sparse, though walnut was recorded—for the first time in medieval Aberdeen—from one site. Fig was recorded from seven samples from four sites, adding to the small amount of evidence for importation of this exotic fruit seen in earlier studies in the town. The samples examined in this assessment probably do not, for the most part, warrant further investigation, although some with a well-preserved assemblage of insect remains may be worthy of recording more fully in the light of the results of the parallel assessment of macro-invertebrates. The Centre for Human Palaeoecology brings together archaeological scientists within the University of York whose research interests include past human activity, economy and environment. Disclaimer: this report is one of a series produced by staff and colleagues of the Centre for Human Palaeoecology, based in the Department of Archaeology, University of York. It contains material that may eventually be intended for publication and, as such, may represent only an interim statement. When quoting this report, please refer to it in this way: Hall, A. (2003). Assessment of samples from medieval deposits from ten excavations in Aberdeen: plant remains and the nature of the deposits.