The Microscopic History Stuck to Ancient Silver

By Sarah Lin - May 22, 2026

Have you ever wondered how we know exactly what a forest looked like two thousand years ago? We usually look at dirt or lake bottoms, but there's a new player in the game: ancient money. Scientists are finding that the

#Microscopic pollen# ancient history# coin analysis# archaeology tools# phytogeography

Sarah Lin

Sarah specializes in the microscopic identification of flora contemporaneous with coinage circulation. Her work centers on the use of phase-contrast microscopy to discern the exine ornamentation of pollen grains trapped in hammered gold.

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