# The International Workgroup for African Archaeobotany (IWAA) at the Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, Paris

Charlène Bouchaud, Flora Pennec, Marie-Pierre Ruas

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Charlène Bouchaud, Flora Pennec, Marie-Pierre Ruas. The International Workgroup for African Archaeobotany (IWAA) at the Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, Paris. Interdisciplinaria ar-chaeologica Natural Sciences in Archaeology, 2025, XVI (2), pp.199-204. 10.24916/iansa.2025.2.7. hal-05290109

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Submitted on 17 Dec 2025

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Bouchaud, C., Pennec, F., Ruas, M.-P., 2025. The International Workgroup for African Archaeobotany (IWAA) at the Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, Paris. IANSA XVI, 199-204.

https://dx.doi.org/10.24916/iansa.2025.2.7

# The International Workgroup for African Archaeobotany (IWAA) at the Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, Paris

Charlène Bouchaud<fnref n="1" />*, Flora Pennec<fnref n="2" />, Marie-Pierre Ruas<fnref n="1" />

<footnote n="1">¹BioArch (UMR 7209), CNRS, Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, 43 rue Buffon (CP56), 75005 Paris, France</footnote>

<footnote n="2">²Eco-anthropologie (UMR 7206), CNRS, Muséum National d'Histoire naturelle, Université Paris Cité, Musée de l'Homme 16 place du Trocadéro 75016 Paris, France</footnote>

<footnote>*Corresponding author. E-mail: charlene.bouchaud@mnhn.fr</footnote>
**Abstract**

The International Workshop for African Archaeobotany (IWAA) is addressed to scholars working in the field of relationships between plants and humans in Africa. The 10th IWAA was organised in Paris from 27th to 30th June 2023 and hosted at the National Museum for Natural History (Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle). The 10th IWAA gathered 74 participants from 18 countries. It included contributions relating to human-plant interactions that dealt with seed and charcoal macroremains, wood, phytoliths, pollen, non-pollen palynomorphs analyses, as well as genomic and ethnobotanical studies.

*Key words:* archaeobotany Africa International conference Paris

# 1. Introduction

The International Workgroup for African Archaeobotany (IWAA) was founded in 1994 under the leadership of Professor Krystyna Wasylikowa. Its primary objective was to establish a group of researchers engaged in the study of ancient plant remains from archaeological contexts across Africa. The first meeting was held in Mogilany, Poland, marking the inception of a collaborative effort to understand the interactions between humans and plants throughout history. Following this, the IWAA meetings have been held regularly every three years: in Leicester, England (1997); Frankfurt, Germany (2000); Groningen, Netherlands (2003); London, England (2006); Cairo, Egypt (2009); Vienna, Austria (2012); Modena, Italy (2015); and Las Palmas, Canarias, Spain (2018). The Paris symposium in 2023 marked the 10th session of the IWAA and thus celebrated the 27th anniversary of these meetings, highlighting the continuous commitment to advancing archaeobotanical research. Originally scheduled for 2021 and cancelled because of the Covid situation, the conference was postponed to 2023, allowing for an even richer exchange of ideas and research findings. This event took place at the Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle (MNHN) in Paris, between June 27 and 30, 2023. Over the years, the IWAA has expanded its initial focus, which was primarily on macro-botanical remains – such as seeds, fruits, and charcoal – found in northern African countries, to encompass the entire African continent. Today, the presented research spans from South Africa to Morocco, covering a variety of environments from Mediterranean regions to tropical forests and desert landscapes. While the study of macroremains continues to be a significant aspect of archaeobotanical research, analyses of phytoliths, starch, pollen, and non-pollen palynomorphs have become increasingly important. Moreover, molecular and geochemical analyses are now integral components of this field. The recent discussions explored the dynamic interactions between plants and past human societies, addressing a diverse range of topics that included the ancient domestication of plants, agricultural and food practices, fuel management, crafts, funerary and ritual customs, the medicinal uses of plants, the dynamics of diffusion, exchange, and trade, the broader cultural contexts in which these interactions occurred, and landscape evolution. This comprehensive approach reflects the interdisciplinary nature of current research, also incorporating historical, ethnobotanical, and linguistic perspectives to enrich our understanding of the past.
<figure><img src="image_1.png" /><figcaption>**Figure 1.** Map showing the origin of participants by institutional country of affiliation.</figcaption></figure>

## 2. A Vibrant International Community

The 10th edition of the IWAA was a hybrid for the first time: it gathered 74 participants from 18 countries, including 62 attendees in person and 12 participating virtually (Figure 1). France unsurprisingly led the count with 22 participants, as the host country. Significantly, the representation of African institutions was also noteworthy, with researchers belonging to Algerian, Egyptian, Ethiopian, Moroccan research centres actively contributing to the discussions, plus scientific collaborations with Cameroonian, Ghanaian, Libyan, Nigerian, Senegalese, Somaliland, Sudanese, Tanzanian, Tunisian and Zimbabwean institutions (Figure 2). This demonstrates the increasing participation of African institutions in shaping the discourse around the continent's archaeological heritage, and a growing recognition of the importance of local expertise and perspectives in studying Africa's past, trending towards more inclusive and global research in archaeobotany. Other European contributors besides France included Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Germany, Italy, Poland, Spain, all of which have long-standing programmes focused on African archaeology. The very international aspect of the event was also marked by the presence of Australian, Canadian and Lebanese institutions.
<figure><img src="image_2.png" /><figcaption>**Figure 2.** Map showing the African countries represented by oral and poster presentations.</figcaption></figure>
### 3. Organisation and financial support

The conference website, still online, was dedicated to the presentation and the organisation of the 10th IWAA conference: https://iwaa10.sciencesconf.org/. This event would not have been possible without the invaluable support of the steering committee, composed of archaeobotanists, palaeobotanists, archaeologists, and ethnobotanists. It included members from four MNHN laboratories, all part of the Homme & Environnement department, as well as one person from the University of Paris-Est Créteil Val de Marne:

* Charlène Bouchaud, Thomas Kerihuel, Marie-Pierre Ruas, Aurélie Salavert (BioArch - CNRS/MNHN)

* Vincent Lebreton, Nathalie Nebout-Combourieu (HNHP (Histoire Naturelle des Humanités Préhistoriques) - CNRS/MNHN)

* Geoffroy de Saulieu (PALOC (Patrimoines locaux, Environnement et Globalisation) - CNRS/IRD/MNHN)

* Flora Pennec (EA (Eco-anthropologie) - CNRS/ MNHN/Univ Paris Cité)

* Aline Garnier (LGP (Laboratoire de Géographie Physique) - UPEC/CNRS)

In addition, the local organising committee managed the substantial administrative workload and ensured the execution of the event, from registration to microphone management, video conferencing, herbarium tours, and poster sessions. Special thanks should go to Elisa Brandstätt, Florian Cortese, Carlotta di Lallo, Xavier Desormeau, Huguette Fenneteau, Hugo Fernandez, Anne- Cécile Haussonne, Nicolas Giret, Michel Lemoine, Myriam Méziou, Clémence Pagnoux, Romain Péronnet, Margareta Tengberg, and Juliette Testas, who managed the significant logistical tasks and provided invaluable on-site support during the event. Our heartfelt gratitude extends to Simon Lang and his team from the seed collection department of the MNHN for preparing small packets of common sage seeds that was distributed to attendees, adding a personal and botanical touch to the gathering. Throughout the organisation of the event, the Scientific Committee provided essential guidance and advice:

* Charlène Bouchaud, Joséphine Lesur, Marie-Pierre Ruas (BioArch (Bioarchéologie, Interactions Sociétés Environnements) - CNRS/MNHN)

* Vincent Lebreton (HNHP (Histoire Naturelle des Humanités Préhistoriques) - CNRS/MNHN)

* Geoffroy de Saulieu (PALOC (Patrimoines locaux, Environnement et Globalisation) - CNRS/IRD/MNHN)

* Vincent Battesti (EA (Eco-anthropologie) - CNRS/ MNHN/Univ Paris Cité)

* Aline Garnier (LGP (Laboratoire de Géographie Physique) - UPEC/CNRS)

* Jérôme Ros (ISEM (Institut des Sciences de l'Evolution de Montpellier) - CNRS/IRD/EPHE/CIRAD/Univ. Montpellier 2/INRAP)

* Louis Champion (DIADE (Diversité, Adaptation, Développement des plantes) - IRD)

* Mennat-Allah El Dorry (Ain Shams University)

* Katharina Neumann (Goethe University)

* Jacob Morales (University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria)

* Anna-Maria Mercuri (University of Modena and Reggio Emilia)

We received financial support from numerous institutions, including all laboratories and organisations involved in the steering committee, as well as the MNHN, the French National Research Institute for Sustainable Development (IRD), the CNRS-Ecology and Environment department, the Île-de-France Region through the DIM PAMIR program, the International Phytolith Society, and University Paris Cité.
4. Conference Structure and Sessions

The conference was organised into five thematic sessions to encourage interdisciplinary exchange, rather than adhering to traditional geographical or chronological divisions. Over the course of three days, 39 oral and 9 poster presentations were delivered across the following key themes: Palaeoenvironment and Landscape Dynamics; Crop Domestication and Dispersal; Plant Uses for Food and Craft Activities; Agropastoral and Household Practices; and finally, a unique addition to this edition, one focussed on Collection, Knowledge, and Dissemination.

In addition to the scientific sessions, attendees participated in a half-day workshop at the archaeobotanical platform of the AASPE laboratory. This session allowed researchers to observe and compare archaeological specimens with modern samples, including seeds, fruits, and charcoal, fostering a collaborative and hands-on learning environment.

The word cloud (Figure 3) built from key-words provided by the participants for their presentation provides a snapshot of the themes and methodologies discussed during the 10th IWAA, illustrating the rich diversity of research within African archaeobotany. Dominating terms such as “Phytoliths”, “Macrobotanical remains”, emphasise the centrality of both microscopic and macroscopic plant analyses (to which we must also add “charcoal”, “pollen” and “starch”, slightly less represented) in uncovering the histories of human subsistence, agriculture, and ecological adaptation across the African continent. Geographical locations like Ethiopia, Egypt, Nigeria, and Morocco featured prominently, indicating that these regions have been the focal points of recent archaeobotanical research. Terms like “Domestication”, “Subsistence”, and “Foodways” highlight the primary questions driving much of this research: How did ancient African communities manage agricultural production, and how were different crops, such as Sorghum, Yams, Ensete, and Pearl Millet, as well as fruit trees, domesticated and incorporated into local food systems? Methodological terms such as “Stable isotopes”, “Radiocarbon dating”, “Dental calculus” and “Geochemical analysis” point to the growing use of scientific techniques and various analytical approaches to reconstruct ancient environments, past human behaviours and understand human-environment interactions. This visualisation thus captures the dynamic and expanding nature of the field, showcasing how archaeobotany has evolved into a multifaceted discipline that examines human history through a combination of cultural, ecological, and biological lenses. Behind these words are landscapes, fields, forests, savannah, gardens, the taste of sorghum, ensete, banana, yams, the smell of harvested fields or of the earth after the rain, and the sound of the grinding stones and mortars.

<figure><img src="image_3.png" /><figcaption>**Figure 3.** Word cloud built on the key-words provided by the participants of the 10th IWAA</figcaption></figure>
5. A Special Moment: The “Prof Ahmed G. Fahmy Memorial Speaker” Award

A highlight of the event was the presentation of the “Prof. Ahmed G. Fahmy Memorial Speaker” Award, created in honour of the late Professor Fahmy, a renowned Egyptologist and archaeobotanist. This award recognises young African scholars who have made significant contributions to the advancement of African archaeobotany. Since 2015, the award has recognised three or more outstanding works by top African Master’s or PhD students. Professor Ahmed Gamal-El-Din Fahmy dedicated his research to the palaeo-environment and archaeobotany in Egypt and Western Africa, focusing on the conservation of threatened plant species in arid ecosystems. As a professor at Helwan University in Cairo, he specialised in the analysis of seeds, fruits, and phytoliths. His extensive contributions to the archaeobotany of Ancient Egypt include the publishing of over 20 scientific papers on the subject, establishing the archaeobotany laboratory at Helwan University, and training many students in the field. In 2009, he organised and hosted the 6th IWAA meeting at Helwan University, which further cemented his legacy within the academic community. Following his passing in December 2013, the community established the “Prof. Ahmed G. Fahmy Memorial Speaker” award to support selected African students by funding their airfare, conference fees, accommodation, and meals. In 2023, the “Prof. Ahmed G. Fahmy Memorial Speaker” award was presented to Fatima- Ezzahra Badri for her presentation on the agriculture and terroirs of mediaeval Haouz at Aghmat, Morocco, revealing new insights into the region’s historical farming practices. The second prize was awarded to Mohammed Nasreldein for his presentation on the exploitation of cultivated and wild plants in Old Dongola during the 16th to 19th centuries AD. The third prize went to Tefera Tarekegn, recognising his research on human-environment interactions during the Late Pleistocene and Holocene epochs through charcoal analysis in Southern Ethiopia. Additionally, a subsidiary fourth prize was awarded to Nagmeldeen Hamza, who presented his work on the plant remains from the tomb of the Pharaoh Tutankhamun. These awards reflect IWAA’s commitment to promoting young talents and fostering collaborations within the field, highlighting the importance of nurturing new generations of scholars dedicated to understanding Africa’s rich archaeological and botanical heritage.

We also commemorated the memory of Barbara Eichhorn, a lovely person and an enthusiastic team player and extremely careful archaeobotanist, working on plant use within Western Africa and beyond, who left us far too soon in February 2020.
<figure><img src="image_4.png" /></figure>

<figure><img src="image_5.png" /><figcaption>Figure 4. Photo of participants to the IWAA10 in Paris and names below.</figcaption></figure>

1. Mohammed Nasreldein; 2. Friyat Angesom Kidane; 3. Alice Williams; 4. Stéphanie Bodin; 5. Clémence Pagnoux; 6. Patrica Ayipey; 7. Elora Chambraud; 8. Aude Gilabert; 9. Jaromír Beneš; 10. Leonor Peña-Chocarro; 11. Charlène Bouchaud; 12. Guillem Pérez-Jordà; 13. Juliette Testas; 14. Carlotta Di Lallo; 15. Elisa Brandstatt; 16. Marie-Pierre Ruas; 17. Alemseged Beldados Aleho; 18. Jacob Morales; 19. Gersande Eschenbrenner Diemer; 20. Llorenç Picornell Gelabert; 21. Wiktoria Zgórzak; 22. Fatima-Ezzarha Badri; 23. Aline Emery-Barbier; 24. Sarah Walsh; 25. Joanna Cozier; 26. Cristina Castillo; 27. Sue Colledge; 28. Dorian Fuller; 29. Claire Malléson; 30. Christopher Stevens; 31. Louis Champion; 32. Charles Le Moyne; 33. Julian Garay Vazquez; 34. Anna den Hollander; 35. Aurélie Salavert; 36. Kingsley Daraojimba; 37. Arnoud Maurer; 38. Adéla Pokorná; 39. Aline Garnier; 40. Tefera Tarekegn Bayu; 41. Alexa Höhn; 42. Katharina Neumann; 43. Margareta Tengberg; 44. Jérôme Ros; 45. Matteo Delle Donne; 46. Menna-Allah El Dorry; 47. Alexia Decaix; 48. Jérôme Duminil; 49. Flora Pennec; 50. Vladimir Dabrowski; 51. Philippa Ryan; 52. Kristýna Hošková.
## 6. Social Events

Beyond the academic exchange, the 10th IWAA provided ample opportunities for social interaction and networking. Two key social events took place: a welcome cocktail on Tuesday, June 27, and a celebratory buffet on a Seine River barge on Thursday evening, where participants enjoyed eating and dancing in a relaxed and scenic setting.

Participants were also treated to exclusive tours of the extensive heritage collections of the National Museum of Natural History. On Wednesday, June 28, and Friday, June 30, attendees visited the Museum's seed collection, wood specimens, and the herbarium, with guided tours led by Margareta Tengberg, Clémence Pagnoux, and Flora Pennec. Additionally, a special tour of the African collection at the Quai Branly Museum was organised, offering attendees a broader cultural perspective on Africa's material heritage.

## 7. Conclusion

This seamless integration of scientific exchange, practical workshops, cultural visits, and social interactions made the 10th edition of IWAA a pleasant moment in the ongoing journey of exploring Africa's botanical past (Figure 4). Each of the previous IWAA events has been published in book form (Wasylikowa and Stuchlik, 1995; Van der Veen, 1999; Neumann, Butler and Kahlheber, 2003; Cappers, 2007; Fahmy, Kahlheber and D'Andrea, 2011; Stevens et al., 2014; Mercuri et al., 2018) and, since the 2015 edition, in digital format (Mercuri et al., 2018; Morales et al. 2021). In the same spirit of the dissemination of scientific results, participants of the 10th IWAA were invited after the conference to deposit the abstracts of their talks and posters on the HAL open archive under a special collection (https://hal.science/ IWAA10). This initiative, as well as the choice to publish in the open access journal *Interdisciplinaria Archaeologica, Natural Sciences in Archaeology* (IANSA) is part of our commitment to promoting open science, ensuring that the research presented at the event is accessible to a broader audience and encourages further academic collaboration.

## References

CAPPERS, R.T.J., 2007. *Fields of change. Progress in African archaeobotany*. Groningen: Barkhuis.

FAHMY, A.G., KAHLHEBER, S., and D'ANDREA, A.C., 2011. *Windows on the African Past: Current Approaches to African Archaeobotany*. Frankfurt: Africa Magna Verlag.

MERCURI, A.M., D'ANDREA, A.C., FORNACIARI, R., and HÖHN A., 2018. *Plants and People in the African Past: Progress in African Archaeobotany*. Cham: Springer International Publishing.
https://dx.doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-89839-1

MORALES, J., PÉREZ-JORDÀ, G., and PEÑA-CHOCARRO, L., 2021. Exploring the Archaeology of Plants in Africa. *Journal of Archaeological Science: reports*, 39. Available at:
https://www.sciencedirect.com/ special-issue/10LCP2BV2QZ

NEUMANN, K., BUTLER, A., and KAHLHEBER, S., 2003. *Food, Fuel and Fields: progress in African Archaeobotany*. Köln: Heinrich-Barth- Institut.

STEVENS, C.J., NIXON, S., MURRAY, M.-A., and FULLER D. Q., 2014. *Archaeology of African plant use*. Walnut Creek: Left Coast Press.

VAN DER VEEN, M., 1999. *The Exploitation of Plant Resources in Ancient Africa*. New York: Kluwer Academic.

WASYLIKOWA, K., and STUCHLIK, L., 1995. *Acta Palaeobotanica*, 35. Available at:
https://archiwum botany.pl/ibwyd/acta_paleo/act-p35.htm