Wood anatomy of archaeological and historical specimens (Invited Review)

The science of wood anatomy has evolved in recent decades to add archaeological and historical wood to its repertoire of documenting and characterizing modern and fossil woods. Cartwright presents an overview of the current state of principles and procedures involved in the study of such specimens, which may be preserved through a variety of processes including charring, waterlogging, desiccation or mineral replacement. Such varying preservation of wood anatomical characteristics often limits the level of identification to taxon, although new-generation scanning electron microscopes and complex optical microscopes can provide opportunities to the specialist for high-quality imaging and analysis of problematic or poorly preserved samples.