Applied Ethnobotany in Arid Lands: The Importance of Time, context and Collaboration

Summary

This paper contributes to the field of applied ethnobotany, which focuses on the role that knowledge, institutions and cultural perspectives play in resource management and conservation (based on Cunningham). Through different case studies to understand people and their use of wild desert plants, this paper stresses the importance of collaboration between disciplines, principally among biological and social sciences; and secondly between formally trained researchers, and local people and resource users. It also highlights the importance of employing archaeological data to better understand resource use through time and at various contexts. The ultimate goal is to achieve a sustainable use of the arid lands biodiversity today and in the future. This effort is inspired by the example of Suzanne Fish and Paul Fish whom I have had the privilege of learning from. Where among many valuable lessons, community outreach and innovative archaeological research are central to their work. Therefore this paper is also a methodological contribution to the field of community archaeology, an archaeology that it is done by the people for the people.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• Society for American Archaeology 82nd Annual Meeting, Vancouver, BC (2017)   •
• Regional to International Collaborations in American Archaeology: The Legacy of Suzanne Fish and Paul Fish

Keywords

Record Identifiers

Abstract Id(s): 15257