In our paper we studied quantitative and qualitative differences in the phytolith assemblages described from the fragments of two palms, Borassus flabellifer L. and Corypha umbraculifera L., most commonly used for the palm-leaf manuscript (PLM) production in South (S) and Southeast Asia (SE). In addition, we sampled 25 fragments of the manuscripts made of leaves of the two palm species in S India (Tamil Nadu and Kerala), Sri Lanka, Burma and Indonesia. Preliminary results revealed a great difference between the processed (i.e., manuscript) and unprocessed (i.e., fresh, dry and herbarium material). Geographical analysis of the manuscript-specific phytoliths suggests that the combination of these phytoliths could be very diverse and in many cases region-specific. Our approach can potentially open a new perspective for palaeoecological research and connect the manuscript historical and conservation studies with natural science.

In our paper we studied quantitative and qualitative differences in the phytolith assemblages described from the fragments of two palms, Borassus flabellifer L. and Corypha umbraculifera L., most commonly used for the palm-leaf manuscript (PLM) production in South (S) and Southeast Asia (SE). In addition, we sampled 25 fragments of the manuscripts made of leaves of the two palm species in S India (Tamil Nadu and Kerala), Sri Lanka, Burma and Indonesia. Preliminary results revealed a great difference between the processed (i.e., manuscript) and unprocessed (i.e., fresh, dry and herbarium material). Geographical analysis of the manuscript-specific phytoliths suggests that the combination of these phytoliths could be very diverse and in many cases region-specific. Our approach can potentially open a new perspective for palaeoecological research and connect the manuscript historical and conservation studies with natural science.