ABSTRACT
Phytoliths are amorphous silica that are well preserved in soils and sediments. Their morphology allows one to identify certain plants, especially cultivated ones, but also to characterise the natural dynamics of the vegetation. Studies of fossil phytoliths, which are particularly effective in neotropical areas, have advanced knowledge on the domestication and diffusion of cultivated plants. This chapter focuses more on the enigma of the origin and dynamics of the bamboo-dominated forests that dot the Amazonian forest. We show that analysis of phytoliths can provide answers. A pilot study, with unpublished data from French Guiana, confirms the effectiveness of this tool.
