Revisão bibliográfica sobre os processos de extração de fitólitos oriundos de contextos arqueológicos

Abstract

The present research aims to explore the methods of phytolith extraction through bibliographic research. Thus, the goal is to perform an analysis of the methodologies and approaches employed in studies aimed at analyzing phytoliths originating from archaeological contexts. Therefore, the work aims to identify and analyze the methodologies present in bibliographic sources, considering the difficulties and complexities of the phytolith extraction process, a microscopic plant-derived particle abundantly present within archaeological sites and possessing significant conservation potential. Consequently, these particles provide evidence of the interactions between communities and plants. Moreover, the process of extracting phytoliths, subsequent to their collection in archaeological sites, constitutes one of the main stages of this type of study and requires researchers dedicated to this field to follow rigorous protocols. In this context, 30 openly accessible research studies conducted in Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, and Colombia were analyzed, categorized into four groups (ceramics, soil, teeth, and lithics) based on the objects of study used in these works. Subsequently, the responsible researchers, obtained results, and phytolith extraction methods employed by the researchers were presented. Therefore, this work aims to compile studies that analyze phytoliths and the extraction methodologies found in these works, aiming to contribute to archaeological research related to interpreting plant remains found in archaeological contexts. This theme is increasingly essential for understanding the relationships between humans and their environment, an area that is still relatively underexplored academically.