The Application of Palynology in Archaeology A Case Study of Badalpur Site in Taxila

Abstract

The main objective and aim of this research under the title ‘The Application of Palynology in Archaeology: A Case Study of Badalpur Site in Taxila’, is to establish the relationship and bond between Botany and Archaeology by using analytical, quantitative, qualitative and experimental methods. It will explain from the detailed introduction of Archaeology and Botany till developing the relationship between them then discuss about ancient pollens, ancient DNA, Dendrocronology and finally termed as palynological archaeology. It will also investigate the features of pollen grains from ancient Gandhara sites through excavation and evaluate the significance of this investigation in systematic and perspective. This scientific research includes its characteristics and experimental techniques in Palynological Laboratory that applied on the pollens from an archaeological site. The researcher used soil sample from archaeological site for pollen analysIs. Soil samples were collected from an archaeological site (Badalpur, Taxila) to evaluate pollen morphology and types of pollen presence in soil. Strandard methods were used for the treatment of soil samples and slides were prepared. The result indicated total 47 pollen taxa in the soil sample belonging to 15 families and 12 genera. The purpose of this research is thus to investigate the features of pollen grains from the ancient Gandhara site (Badalpur) and the comparison of Gandhara period plants with the existing plants and investigate the agriculture evolution in Gandhara. The change of climate patterns can be determined by pollen analyses of the soil. The investigational palynological research will contribute in the meadow of archaeology and towards the conversion of traditional archaeology into “Experimental Archaeology”.