X-ray microtomography is among the most innovative applied techniques enabling us to detect and examine those parts of the archaeological record beyond our unaided vision. Moreover, three-dimensionality provides a morphological description of attributes, objects and assemblages that is closer to their factual reality, but also facilitates the quantification of variables and items that would otherwise be incomplete or inaccessible. Over the last 15 years, it has been the subject of growing attention among archaeobotanists, geoarchaeologists and other specialists dealing with microarchaeological data on past environment characterizations, people-environment interactions, and impact of environmental factors on site formation processes, among others. These studies, which began using microtomography almost experimentally, tend to move towards a more systematic approach through the revision of the methodology, the generation of protocols and the increasing of case studies. These also provide an account of the challenges and advantages in using X-ray microtomography. The use of this technique in archaeobotany and geoarchaeology is being strengthened through the general development of new technologies for data acquisition and processing, as well as, the visualization and analysis of volumetric information. In line with this, methods, technologies and software needs to be regularly monitored and assessed, including issues related to documentation, storage, preservation, and sharing of virtual data and 3D images.

It is of great interest for this special issue to gather contributions that show the current state of the art in the application of microtomography in the field of archaeobotany and geoarchaeology. It is hoped that this collection will provide a set of representative studies concerning the analytical potential of the technique as well as its methodological challenges. It is also intended to show future possibilities for its application and the directions to follow in developing new perspectives.

The scope of the research topic covers a wide range of issues related to the production, analysis and management of three-dimensional data in archaeobotanical and geoarcheological research from an Environmental Archaeology perspective.

Some themes particularly interesting (but not exclusive) for the proposed topic and the preferred types of manuscripts are listed below:

·Reviews or mini-reviews on X-ray microtomography applications.
·Original research and Report articles of case studies focused on 3D approaches.
·Perspective and Method articles on issues and challenges associated with the creation, maintenance and sharing of virtual repository of 3D information.
·Method articles on the scientific and formal requirements of 3D data and metadata for storage and retrieval in digital data repositories.
·Method articles on innovation on 3D methodologies and techniques, instrumentation and advanced software for data processing and analysis (big data, machine learning, AI).

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Frontiers in Environmental Archaeology

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