New challenges in archaeopalynology: Pollen analysis on Roman bivalve shells from south-western Europe and North Africa
Journal: Review of Palaeobotany and Palynology
Year: 2023

The European flat oyster (Ostrea edulis) is a native species that was consumed as a luxurious product by the Romans. In the Strait of Gibraltar area, between southwest Iberia and North Africa, numerous oyster shells have been found in Roman archaeological sites located in both, the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea. The origin of these oysters is unknown, as so if they were farmed or harvested in the wild and/or even imported for consumption. This study presents the results of pollen anal