Carlos G. Santiago-Marrero

📢Save the date 📢 15th International Meeting on Phytolith Research (IMPR) / III Brazilian Symposium of Archaeobotany

The call for abstracts and registration will open on 1 st June 2026.

The organisation looks forward to welcoming you in São Paulo!

Silica mapping (in red) in leaf transverse sections of Asparagales. (A–E) Orchidaceae–Epidendroideae, silica deposits mostly restricted to bundle sheath cells (with fragments elsewhere), absent from epidermis. (A–D) Dendrobium ×delicatum (Epidendroideae–Orchidaceae), (A) entire vascular bundle with phytoliths in bundle sheath cells, (B) single phytolith inside bundle sheath cell, (C: silica 0.8%) leaf section, and (D) group of phytoliths on bundle sheath surface. (E) Bletilla striata (Epidendroideae–Orchidaceae), phytoliths mostly restricted to bundle sheath cells. (F) Astelia fragrans (Asteliaceae–Asparagales), showing part of epidermis and vascular bundle; no silica detected throughout leaf. Map sum spectra of elements shown in C and F (inset). Scale bars: A, C = 100 µm; B = 5 µm; D = 10 µm, E = 50 µm; F = 100 µm.

Why do some plants grow tiny glass-like structures called phytoliths? New research by @jehovalourenco.bsky.social reveals that monocots evolved this trick twice - and some later dropped it.
A story of convergent evolution, loss, an cellular creativity
🧪 doi.org/10.1002/ajb2...

Thanks, Martin. It was a great honor having you and sharing such a wonderful time. I hope you had a safe trip back home!

Today we concluded the 14th International Meeting on Phytolith Research in Barcelona after six amazing days of workshops, presentations, and great people. Looking forward to the next meeting in São Paulo, Brazil!

🌾Almost ready for the next International Meeting on Phytolith Research!!

Source: 11.03.2017 Photo by Master Sgt. Joshua DeMotts 1st Combat Camera Squadron

We took a break to visit El Yunque National Rainforest. It's also impressive how the forest has recovered from the devastating Hurricane Maria.

We're back in Puerto Rico to continue our archaeological work at Caguana! Over the past months, we've processed some of the sediment samples with great results. Now it’s time to dive into lab work and take a closer look at materials from one of the most promising excavation units.🌿🏺🔬

Adding ‘flavour’ to past cuisines: First steps towards a phytolith reference collection of modern Mediterranean herbs Most aromatic herbs belong to plants within the onion subfamily (Allioideae Herb.), the mint family (Lamiaceae Martinov), the parsley family (Apiaceae…

🚨New paper alert🚨

Adding ‘flavour’ to past cuisines: First steps towards a phytolith reference collection of modern Mediterranean herbs🌿

www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...

Ethics in Archaeobotanical Research Questionnaire General Aim. The aim of this questionnaire is to gather information about the ethical issues that arise in the field of Archaeobotany (aspects linked to laboratory methods and general archaeobotanical...

🚨Check out the "Ethics in Archaeobotany" questionnaire 🚨—open until January 17, 2025! 👀
docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...

Microbotanical analyses of dental calculus and caries occurrence at Neolithic Tepecik-Çiftlik, Türkiye: insights into diet and oral health - Archaeological and Anthropological Sciences The transition to agriculture-based economies and sedentary lifeways during the Neolithic brought significant changes in oral health and diet. Despite the influence of physiological and cultural facto...

🚨Paper alert 🚨

Third paper in what has been a very productive year.

Check it out to learn more about microbotanical remains in dental calculus and oral health in Neolithic Anatolia 🦷🔬

link.springer.com/article/10.1...