Varför används pollenanalys? : En studie av hur pollenanalys tillämpas i arkeologiska rapporter

Sammanfattning: Why is pollen analysis used? This thesis has critically reviewed and examined archaeologist’s view and usage of pollen analysis, or palynology. Two research questions have been used and they are both directed towards archaeology reports and wants, together with the purpose, study how archaeologist have been using pollen analysis. In this thesis nine archaeology reports have been studied and analysed, and they have been compared with what archaeology literature have to say about pollen analysists abilities and limitations. The results presented in this thesis show that archaeologists are aware of how pollen analysis function, as well as the analysis methods abilities and limitations. Exceptions exists, but for the most parts archaeologists use pollen analysis for similar purposes namely, to examine vegetation history or to landscaping prehistoric mapping. In the exceptions, pollen analysis has shown to be a difficult method. But indications occur that pollen analysis, as a study method, can be used in more research questions than only vegetation history and landscape mapping.