Socio-ecology of Early and Middle Bronze Age communities in the northwest Atlantic region of Iberia: Wood resources procurement and forest management

Published Date
Quaternary International
Available online 6 September 2015, doi:10.1016/j.quaint.2015.08.026
In Press, Corrected Proof — Note to users

Author 

• María Martín-Seijo ^a,b,c,,
• João Pedro Tereso ^b
• Ana M.S. Bettencourt ^c,d
• Hugo A. Sampaio ^c
• Emilio Abad Vidal ^e
• Lorena Vidal Caeiro ^f

• aStudy Group for the Prehistory of NW Iberia-GEPN (GI-1534), Department of History I, University of Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela, Spain
• bInBio – Research Network in Biodiversity and Evolutionary Biology (Associated Laboratory), CIBIO – Research Center in Biodiversity and Genetic Resources, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
• cLandscape, Heritage and Territory Laboratory (Lab2PT), University of Minho, Braga, Portugal
• dDepartment of History, Social Sciences Institute, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal
• eCESGA – Centro de Supercomputación de Galicia, Spain
• fZeta Arqueoloxía S.L, Spain

Available online 6 September 2015.

Abstract

This paper focuses on the web of relationships established between Early and Middle Bronze Age communities and their environment in Northwest Iberia. Charcoal remains recovered from settlements and funerary sites in this area can inform a greater understanding of wood resource procurement and woodland management strategies adopted by these small-scale communities. Although charcoal analysis of contexts with chronologies ranging from 2200 to 1200 cal. BC is not commonly undertaken in this area, data from this period are of great importance because it represents a phase of major deforestation and landscape change. Wood resources were local and exploitation was conditioned by their availability in the environs of the sites. These communities established a clear preference for Quercus wood, combined recurrently with shrubby species of the Fabaceae family. This co-occurrence, previously observed in Middle and Late Bronze Age contexts, could extend back to the Early Bronze Age and even to the Late Neolithic. The presence of small trees and shrubs such as Rosaceae/Maloideae and Corylus avellana could be related with the open landscape that characterises this period, and with the existence of woodland management practices designed to prevent forest regeneration.

Keywords

Early Bronze Age

Middle Bronze Age

Charcoal analysis

Woodland management

Wood resource procurement

Northwest Iberia

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• ∗ 
  Corresponding author. Study Group for the Prehistory of NW Iberia-GEPN (GI-1534), Department of History I, University of Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela, Spain.

© 2015 Elsevier Ltd and INQUA. All rights reserved.

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Lighting the dark: Wood charcoal analysis from Cueva de Nerja (Málaga, Spain) as a tool to explore the context of Palaeolithic rock art Éclairer l’obscurité : analyse de charbon de bois de Cueva De Nerja (Málaga, Espagne) comme outil pour l’exploration du contexte de l’art pariétal paléolithique

Published Date
Comptes Rendus Palevol
July–August 2015, Vol.14(5):411–422, doi:10.1016/j.crpv.2015.03.010
Human Palaeontology and Prehistory (Prehistoric Archaeology)

• Author 

• M Ángeles Medina-Alcaide
• José Luis Sanchidrián Torti
• Lydia Zapata Peña

Abstract

This study examines 100 charred plant macroremains from the inner galleries of Cueva de Nerja in order to better understand the context of Palaeolithic rock art and obtain information about possible lighting systems. The remains were retrieved on the surface, very close to Palaeolithic cave paintings, and also from inside possible points of fixed lighting. The predominant wood-type is Pinus sp., especially Pinus tp. sylvestris/nigra. The taphonomic alterations recorded are attributable to the combustion process (vitrification and cracks), the possible gathering of dead wood (fungal hyphae/mycelia), the use of branches and twigs (reaction wood) and the burning of resinous taxa (resin marks). The identification of a vegetative bud of Pinus sylvestris furnishes information about the use of tree branches, as well as the time of year at which the Cueva de Nerja may have been frequented by prehistoric groups.

Résumé

Cette étude examine 100 macrovestiges de plantes carbonisées provenant des galeries intérieures de Cueva De Nerja, afin de mieux comprendre le contexte de l’art pariétal paléolithique et d’obtenir des informations sur les possibles systèmes d’éclairage. Les restes ont été récupérés en surface, très près des peintures paléolithiques de la caverne, et également à l’intérieur des possibles lieux d’éclairage fixe. Le type de bois prédominant est Pinus sp., particulièrement Pinus tp. sylvestris/nigra. Les altérations taphonomiques enregistrées sont attribuables au processus de combustion (vitrification et fissures), à un possible ramassage de bois mort (hyphes/mycéliums de champignons), à l’utilisation de branches et de brindilles (bois de réaction) et à la combustion de taxons résineux (marques de résine). L’identification d’un bourgeon végétatif de Pinus sylvestris documente l’utilisation de branches d’arbre, ainsi que l’époque au cours de laquelle la Cueva de Nerja a pu être fréquentée par les groupes préhistoriques.

Keywords

Wood charcoal analysis

Taphonomy

Inner archaeological context

Parietal art

Upper Palaeolithic

Mots clés

Anthracologie

Taphonomie

Contexte archéologique interne

Art pariétal

Paléolithique supérieur

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• ⁎ 
  Corresponding author.

Copyright © 2015 Académie des sciences. Published by Elsevier Masson SAS All rights reserved.

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