Palaeobotany: the scientific study of the remains of plants, grains, fruits, weeds etc., originating from archaeological excavations and which identifies the types of flora and their significance for the economy of each era (see flotation).

Palaeozoology (or Archaeozoology): the scientific study of the bones of animals originating from archaeological excavations and which identifies the species and their significance for the economy of each era.

Palaeoanthropology: the scientific study of human skeletons which contributes to other related studies e.g. kinship relations, mortality factors etc.

palaeoenvironment: the geomorphology, climate, fauna and flora of an area during an era in the past.

Palynology: the scientific study of the flora which characterizes different paleoenvironments, and involves an analysis of pollen, conserved in layers at the bottom of swamps and lakes.

pendant: piece of jewellery with or without a hole, hung around the neck as a simple adornment or amulet.

percussion: the simplest method of working stone tools, during which the end product is formed by successive peckings at the raw material.

pithoid vases: large closed vases used for the storage of solid and liquid materials.

Pleistocene or Ice Age: the geological period (ca. 2,000,000-12,000 before the present-BP), during which the human species appeared and evolved (see also Glacial, Interglacial).

Pliocene: the geological period (ca. 5,200,000-2,000,000 before the present-BP) preceding the Pleistocene (see Pleistocene).

pyrotechnology: the knowledge of manipulating fire and therefore heat, in order to fire vases and melt metals.