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Polarized light microscopy casts new light on plants used to make tapa
Author(s) -
Smith C. A.,
Lowe B. J.,
Fraser N. L.,
Boucher J.J.
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
archaeometry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.716
H-Index - 67
eISSN - 1475-4754
pISSN - 0003-813X
DOI - 10.1111/arcm.12562
Subject(s) - moraceae , ficus , polarized light microscopy , dirt , geography , archaeology , botany , biology , optics , cartography , physics
Information about plant materials of construction in artefacts advances knowledge about human history, agriculture, trade, migration and adaptation to new environments. Typically, materials identification in artefacts made from plants is problematic, since processing, age, dirt and surface treatments can mask identifying features, while ethical considerations relating to sampling limit the use of some analytical techniques. The study tests the usefulness of polarized light microscopy for identifying the New Zealand and Pacific plant species used to make tapa, indicating birefringent and morphological characteristics that can be used to differentiate fibres at the level Moraceae (Pacific; from genera Artocarpus , Broussonetia and Ficus ) and Malvaceae (New Zealand; from genera Hoheria and Plangianthus ).