Fossil or non-fossil? A best-practice guide for archaeobotanical taxa

Abstract

Can archaeobotanical material be treated as a nomenclatural type of a fossil taxon? Here we show that archaeobotanical taxa should be named according to the rules for non-fossil taxa. Examples of archaeobotanical taxa are summarized and discussed. A best-practice guide for the correct treatment of archaeological plant remains as the type of a new name is presented.