----- Original Message -----
> It seems unlikely that very many Paleo humans encountered Ginseng plants
at
> all.

But isn't "paleolithic" somewhat of a relative term depending on *where*
geographically a certain focus is cast, human population found, and what the
*lifestyle* there entailed?  Isn't there overlap between the paleo- &
mesolithic ages and the meso- & neo-?   Sort of like the Renaissance began
in either the 13th, 14th, or 15th Century, depending upon *where* you were
in Europe.

FWIW,  here's a site that mentions ginseng and paleo h/g's.
http://www.in-russia.com/?eXMID=9&ID=212

"Due to the genetic overlap of two biomes and the fact that the area escaped
glaciation during the last ice-age, Primorye contains many endemic plants
and those with medicinal value, such as ginseng. Other important food and
medicinal plants include, Korean Pine nuts, eleutheroccus, mushrooms, and
berries. Sikhote-Alin forests also produce large amounts of fur, fish, meat,
and honey.

"Originally distributed across China, North Korea, and Russia, natural
ginseng only remains in Primorsky and Khabarovsky krais. Population ranges
include the southern Sikhote-Alin mountains and the Laoyeling Moutains along
the Primorky, Russia/Jilin, China border.

"Homo Sapiens first came to Primorye some 30,000 years ago from inland Asia.
These were Paleolithic hunters-gatherers who were after mammoths, wild
horses, bears and moose."

I wonder if any of them gathered ginseng berries?

Theola