11/4/22, 11:32 AM ethnobotany -- Britannica Online Encyclopedia

ethnobotany
ethnobotany, systematic study of the botanical knowledge of a social group and its use of
locally available plants in foods, medicines, clothing, or religious rituals. Rudimentary
drugs derived from plants used in folk medicines have been found to be beneficial in the
treatment of many illnesses, both physical and mental. The ethnobotany of prehistoric
cultures is discovered through examination of ancient writings, pictures, pottery, and plant
remains in jars or midden heaps (garbage dumps) excavated at archaeological sites. From
this information, the agricultural practices and cultural development of a people can be
determined. Ethnobotanists often live for periods of time in the society they are studying, to
observe all phases of their lives, including mythology, religious practices, and language, in
order to determine the specific plants used and the methods involved in their preparation.
Travelers’ journals, the field notes of early botanists, and other writings serve as sources of
information about agricultural methods and folk remedies of the past.

Citation Information
Article Title:
ethnobotany
Website Name:
Encyclopaedia Britannica
Publisher:
Encyclopaedia Britannica, Inc.
Date Published:
05 June 2017
URL:
https://www.britannica.comhttps://www.britannica.com/science/ethnobotany
Access Date:
November 04, 2022

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