Ben Ford <[log in to unmask]> wrote:

> I am interested in finding references regarding the use of plants as clues
> for site identification.

Take a look at Oliver Rackham's work - which has been central to the
development of historical ecology and the use of the botanical analysis to
identify evidence of past landscapes.

His various publications about Britain, and most recently Crete, include:

1976 Trees and Woodland in the British Landscape
1993 The History of the British Countryside
1996 The Making of the Cretan Landscape

You may also want to look at his recent paper in the excellent new journal
Landscapes. If you have difficulty getting hold of it, it's published by
Windgather Press, Macclesfield: www.windgather.co.uk

Rackham 2000. Prospects for Landscape History and Historical Ecology.
Landscapes 1(2)

Hope this helps,

Dan Hicks
www.fieldschool.net