From the Mediterranean to the Indian Ocean through ethnoarchaeology of fuel and archaeobotany

ongoing

The objective of this project is to study energy procurement practices and its relationship with environmental, economic, and social sustainability. To do so, we aim to carry out ethnoarchaeological fieldwork regarding fuel-related practices among the Vedda indigenous communities in Sri Lanka. In parallel, we will develop archaeobotanical research to interrogate these questions in prehistoric and early historical periods of the island. The building of a wood reference collection will be key and will boost the development of proper charcoal analyses. The results of this research will be integrated to create an educational resource for museums, botanical gardens and schools, with the aim to bring the study of humans and plants interactions to the general public. This project requires f different methodologies, whose field of expertise, facilities and knowledge are shared between academic and non-academic organizations in France, Spain, and Sri Lanka. For the successful development of the project, we involve 21 persons with different categories (PhD students, postdoctoral and senior researchers, technicians, and members of non-academic organizations) developing a total of 64 months of secondments in the institutions involved. This project will set up the basis for sustainable collaboration between academic institutions working on archaeological charcoal and ethnoarchaeology of fuel, and non-academic institutions engaged in educational resources on ethnobotany and the diversity of human uses of plants. The project is organized in 5 packages including four objectives and the management and dissemination of the project. The research will be carried out through long-term secondments by PhD students and shorter secondments by senior researchers and non-academic members. This project will provide scientific impact by delivering training and resources for the study of charcoal remains and socio and economic impact throughout the production of an educational resource.