Biofact (archaeology) facts for kids
In archaeology, a biofact (also called an ecofact) is a natural material found at an archaeological site. These materials are important because they help archaeologists understand the past. Biofacts are natural objects found alongside artifacts (things made or used by humans) or features (non-movable parts of a site, like a hearth). Examples of biofacts include animal bones, charcoal, plant remains, and pollen.
Unlike artifacts, which people purposefully shaped or used, biofacts are natural items that humans simply consumed or handled. They show us how ancient people lived and interacted with their environment.
Plant Clues from the Past
One common type of biofact is a plant seed. Plant remains can tell us many things. They show what people ate, what medicines they used, and even how they made clothes.
Pollen found at archaeological sites helps researchers learn about the ancient environment. It also shows what foods prehistoric people processed or grew. By studying pollen over time, we can see how the environment and diets changed. If many seeds of a cultivated plant are found, it suggests that people grew that plant for food or other useful products. These products could include materials for clothing, bedding, or even building materials.
Wood: A Timeline of History
Another important biofact is wood. Wood is made of natural materials like cellulose and lignin. Every year, a tree adds a new ring to its trunk. This allows scientists to use a method called dendrochronology to figure out the exact age of the wood.
Charcoal is wood that has been burned. Archaeologists can find charcoal at sites and use a method called carbon-14 dating to find out how old it is. From charcoal, they can also learn about the local environment and how humans adapted to it. If wood has been changed by humans, like a carved wooden tool, it is considered an artifact, not a biofact.
Images for kids
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The 9th-century Viking Lloyds Bank coprolite, now at Jorvik Viking Centre, York
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Bones of butchered animals uncovered during excavations at the Fort Loudoun site in Monroe County, Tennessee, United States, on display at the Fort Loudoun State Park museum.
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Pictures of charcoal, a fuel obtained by the slow and incomplete combustion of wood.
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Compound microscope image of pollen using x10 objective & 3.5 MP USB Camera in minor bright-field under coverslip
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Excavations at the Al Mina / City Site in Tyre/Sour, Southern Lebanon, by an archaeological team of Professor Pierre-Louis Gatier from the University of Lyon
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Archaefructus liaoningensis - a photograph of a facsimile of the fossil.
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Artistic representation of what Coronacollina acula may have looked like.
