A study of the botanical material from three medieval Scottish sites

Plant remains from soil samples taken during the archaeological excavations of three medieval Scottish sites, Perth, Aberdeen and Elgin, were studied. Three different methods were used to extract plant remains: paraffin flotation, water flotation and wet sieving. Macrofossils were identified and counted for each sample. The resultant plant assemblages were related where possible to their archaeological contexts. An annotated species list was compiled with information on identification of fossils, history, ecology and possible uses. Brassica seeds were studied in detail, H comparison was made between modern arable need floras and medieval weed floras represented in the samples. Plant species recovered were considered in relation to diet and other uses of plants in the medieval Scottish economy