into three classes. In the first group are those materials 
which, because of their structure and composition, have 
withstood well the ravages of time. One can often de- 
termine the genus and in some cases the species to which 
a specimen in this class belongs from the macroscopic 
appearance alone. However, there are other specimens 
which, although well-preserved, are either too small or 
too lacking in the necessary details to make identification 
possible. 
In the second group occur plant parts of finer texture, 
which have been thoroughly dried and are usually too 
thin and brittle to withstand any pressure or handling 
either within the site or later during study. The most 
common examples of this group are pieces of leaves and 
small stems. These are usually fragmentary when found, 
or else become so through handling soon afterwards. 
Identification is far more difficult in this group than in 
the first. 
A third type of plant specimen, sometimes found in 
these sites, shows the results of various stages of decay or 
even possibly the results of pre-burial treatment such as 
cooking. Specimens of roots and tubers may fall into 
this category. 
All three of these types of materials were represented 
by the plant remains found in the mummy bundle under 
discussion. A detailed description of these specimens 
follows, with the genera arranged in families according 
to the Engler and Prantl system of classification. 
GRAMINEAE 
Zea Mays L. 
The maize specimens in the mummy bundle consisted 
of one whole cob (80/4183), two broken cobs (80/4184, 
30/4186) and several cob fragments (80/4185, 30/4187). 
In addition there are a number of kernels, some still 
[ 230 | 
