A Morphological Classification of Roots and Tubers and its bearing on the Origins of Agriculture in Southwest Asia and Europe

The classification of roots and tubers into morphological categories is often confusing and more of a hindrance than a help to archaeobotanical analysis. As such, a new classification, based on the potential for vegetative propagation, is suggested, and the terms it uses are briefly defined. The different categories of roots and tubers are then discussed with reference to the archaeological record and the origins of agriculture in Southwest Asia and Europe.