Plant exploitation and ethnopalynological evidence from the Wadi Teshuinat area (Tadrart Acacus, Libyan Sahara)

Pollen analyses of 13 archaeological sites in the Wadi Teshuinat area, in southwestern Fezzan, Libya, were synthesised to explore the potentialcontribution of palynological investigation to archaeological research in this area. During the Holocene, the sites were occupied by pre-Pastoral (hunteregatherers) and Pastoral (pastoralists) cultures. Different pollen stratigraphies and floras characterised the diverse sites and therelevant cultural phases. Pollen data were reported by discussing the sites separately, and by combining them to interpret the regional data set.Emphasis was made on the anthropogenic pollen indicators and grasses, including large grass pollen grains (>40 mm), which were consideredevidence of plant transport into the site. These were ethnobotanical markers, human-made evidence of plant harvesting by hunteregatherers, orof animal breeding by pastoralists. The disappearance of some wild cereals was also observed, consistent with increasing climate dryness andland exploitation. Macroremains were used as a parallel tool to better understand plant exploitation in the region.