Mesostigmata

 

Some species of Mesostigmata are found on vegetation rather that in the soil. The Mesostigmata microfossils can therefore give a useful indication of the derivation of material in a deposit at an archaeological site.

Mesostigmata

These microfossils are common in coprolites which can be a clue as to where livestock was kept or where the "outhouse" was positioned at a site.

 

The species dermanyssus is a parasitic blood feeder restricted to the nests of birds. Anywhere this parasitic microfossil is found, it is likely that the bones surrounding it can be indentified as some type of bird. This help archaeologists with the identification of bones.

Dermanyssus