Anthracology

Anthracology is a multidisciplinary science that relies on the analysis and identification of charcoal based on wood anatomy, which remains perfectly preserved after carbonization. Remains of carbonized wood may come from archaeological sites or from sediments, and make evidence either of natural or anthropogenic paleofires or of several aspects of human activity. Anthracological studies may also be applied to extant material, in which case they can focus either on the anatomical description of reference material or on the inspection of charcoal of illegal provenience.