Preservation or destruction of plant remains by carbonization?

Seeds and rinds of several plant taxa were thermally exposed. The results indicate that conditions such as the temperature, length of exposure, moisture content, and the portions of the plant involved influence the fact whether a remain will survive in a condition that is identifiable to the researcher. In addition, distortions may occur that may call into question the use of measurements as a means to distinguish between wild and domesticated forms of plants. (C) 2003 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.