DateBack

DateBack compiles and standardizes archaeobotanical remains of Phoenix (L.) spp. to facilitate spatiotemporal analyses of date palm cultivation history and support archaeobotany-based research.

Key Features:

• Digital Repository: An open-access repository of archaeobotanical data focusing on date palm cultivation in West Asia and North Africa.
• Macroremain Records: Records macroremains including seeds, fruits, stems, and petioles from prehistoric to Late Antiquity contexts.
• Radiocarbon-Dated Entries: Includes a separate table of radiocarbon-dated entries for refined chronological assessments.
• Standardized Data Compilation: Assembles and standardizes archaeobotanical data from archaeological sites and literature sources.
• Scalable Architecture: Supports future expansions to include additional periods, geographic regions, and new types of evidence such as plant microremains and iconography.

Scientific Applications:

• Spatiotemporal Analysis: Facilitates advanced spatiotemporal analyses of date palm domestication, consumption, and cultivation spread.
• Ancient DNA Studies: Supports archaeobotany-based research including ancient DNA studies.
• Chronological Reconstruction: Enables refinement of chronological assessments of date palm cultivation emergence across regions.
• Regional Disparity Assessment: Identifies regional disparities in archaeobotanical remain distribution and data reliability.

Methodology:

DateBack was developed through extensive literature review to assemble archaeobotanical entries from archaeological sites and references, with data organized into main records and a separate table of radiocarbon-dated entries.