1. Microscopic silica structures formed inside plant cells; used in archaeology and paleontology to identify ancient plant species and reconstruct past environments.
Usage: plural form; singular is phytolith; technical/scientific term; commonly used in archaeology, botany, and geology

Examples

• Archaeologists analyzed phytoliths from ancient pottery to determine what crops were grown thousands of years ago.
• Phytoliths preserved in soil layers provide evidence of past vegetation and climate conditions.
• The phytoliths found in the sediment samples indicated the presence of grasses and palm trees.
• Scientists use phytoliths to study how human agriculture developed in different regions.
• Phytoliths are more durable than pollen and can survive in harsh environmental conditions for millennia.