Evaluation of the distribution of the taxa at a spatial level

For a final evaluation of the economic significance of the analysed samples, it is necessary to carry out a spatial analysis of their distribution.

Fig. 4.33. Results of the CA of the samples of Camp del Colomer.

-1.0 2.0

-1.04.0

UE245 UE222

UE100 UE103

UE108 UE109

UE127

UE130

UE154

UE209 UE210

SAMPLES

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Fig. 4.34.Results of the CA of the samples of Camp del Colomer, after grouping taxa per ecological group (left) and showing the distribution of all the taxa (right). Inertia: Axis 1= 29.1%; axis 2= 26%.

Fig. 4.35. Results of the CA of the samples of Camp del Colomer after grouping the samples per archaeological feature (left) and per taphonomic origin (right).

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It was considered of interest to undertake Correspondence Analysis (CA) in order to see how samples grouped when considering all available data and plotting them according to several of the variables considered until now: the botanical composition, the type of feature and the number of events (potentially) represented. Besides, it was considered equally necessary to represent some of the formerly presented results (e.g. grain-rich samples, samples with edible wild plants, etc.) on the site plan in order to see how they are organized spatially.

The CA was carried out on samples with more than 35 identified individuals (n: 12) and taxa that appeared in less than 3 samples were eliminated. Sample UE243 from the pit FS-45 was eliminated after the first plot (not shown) since it was treated as an outlier due to the high proportion of acorns in its contents. The subsequent graph is presented in Fig. 4.33.

When plotting the samples in the same CA in pie charts and grouping the taxa per ecological group some patterns emerged (Fig. 4.34) First of all, the horizontal axis of the graph separates samples which were rich in cultivars from those which were not. The vertical axis opposed those samples which were rich in weeds and woodland taxa from those where cultivars and plants from woodland edges were better represented.

When considering the taxa distribution in particular, it was possible to observe that the horizontal axis opposed H. vulgare var. nudum and Thlaspi arvense to a relatively large diversity of taxa where Papaver somniferum and Quercus sp. were found. The vertical axis, on the other hand, presented Corylus, Chenopodium, Pyrus, Triticum aestivum/durum/turgidum and Pisum on the positive side and H. vulgare var.

nudum, Thlaspi arvense and a diverse variety of wild taxa on the negative side.

These results could be interpreted as supporting the existence of some significant distribution of the taxa.

This, at the same time, would mean that refuse from consumption is not randomly distributed among the site. Quite the opposite, it indicates that some management took place. More importantly, it shows that all these resources were managed and consumed independently.

For this to be confirmed, the samples were grouped per archaeological feature and per taphonomic origin, following the results of our own analyses (Fig. 4.35). When observing the samples grouped per feature it seemed clear that, on the one hand, storage pits SJ-01 and SJ-24 were at opposite ends of the horizontal axis while, on the other hand, the storage pit SJ-07, the dwelling structure EI-2, the storage pit SJ-19 and the pit FS-29 were at the positive end of the vertical axis and SJ-01 and SJ-24 were at the negative end. This would indicate that the processes of formation of the stratigraphic units within each structure were very similar.

This probably responds to their rapid re-filling of the structure and not to the fact that these were samples from the same activity. For this hypothesis to be confirmed, soil micromorphological analyses should have been carried out. SJ-01 is a good case to put as an example that the different samples, though similar in composition, respond to different actions, since the sampled stratigraphic units usually have other strata in between (see Fig. 4.36). On the other hand, it also indicates that the use that was given to each structure was rather different. It is important to notice at this stage that some refitting among the potsherd fragments found in the features SJ-01 and SJ-24 was possible. This probably means that their filling took place at the same time (and in a short period of time) and that their different botanical composition does not reflect different moments or occupation phases.

Finally, samples were grouped according to their taphonomic origin, distinguishing those identified as

“likely to represent one single event” and those “likely to represent several actions in the past”. They seem

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to be distributed along the horizontal axis. All the samples which are likely to represent one single event in the past are at the negative side of this axis. These usually coincide with the samples with more remains from cultivars, while those samples where wild plants are better represented seem to be more complex in a taphonomic sense. This pattern could be showing that the consumption of cultivars (mainly naked barley) produced a larger amount of refuse which was discarded in some particular structures (in this case mainly the storage pit SJ-01). Conversely, the consumption of wild plants might be much sparser in time, and it might involve lower quantities of refuse.

It is possible that the samples which are rich in naked barley, were produced in a relatively short period of time. The important quantities of barley grains lacking the embryo could be due to the existence of a period of storage. Some insect pests feed from embryos during this process (the presented taphonomic analysis allows the discarding of postdepositional processes such as intense erosion as a cause and the fact that we are dealing with a hull-less grain also allows the omission of the possibility that this was produced during dehusking). Consequently, the analysed samples might be the result of their processing in bulk after storage.

At this point the grain could have been roasted before storing it in jars for its piecemeal consumption (such practice was observed ethnographically, see (Ferchiou 1985)) or maybe, as in other ethnographic examples from Tibet, flour was made from roasted grain, a product which is called Tsamba (Li et al. 2011). In fact both possibilities are not exclusive.

Fig. 4.36. Profile view of feature SJ-01 (storage pit), where the location of UE101, UE103, UE108 and UE109 can be observed (Drawing: Patrimoni Cultural d’Andorra).

The processing of wild plant foods could have taken place at a daily basis, together with the final culinary processing of cereal. This would lead to some of the mixed assemblages that have been observed, which also present lower densities of remains.

Finally, the samples from the storage pit SJ-24 show a different composition. This could respond, as previously stated, to a mixture of crop processing residues, the consumption of wild fruits for different purposes and even the burning of dung or grasses for particular purposes which are unknown to us.

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The fact that poppy is mostly linked to feature SJ-24 (and other features not directly or uniquely related to cereal crops) might have two interpretations. One could be that poppy is not a cultivar at Camp del Colomer and the other one could be that poppy went through a completely different process as a crop with respect to barley. The latter interpretation is much more likely, especially considering the importance of this crop in central Europe in the second half of the Vth millennium cal BC (Jacomet 2007), and the taphonomic issues that affect its preservation.

The spatial representation of the analysed samples seems to yield some interesting information (Fig. 4.37).

The remains of wild edible fruits are mainly concentrated in pits from the north-western sector. Hazelnuts are found in larger amounts in smaller pits, while acorns were primarily recovered in larger pits. This area must have been intensively used in the past for the processing of wild fruits. These pits could have been used as roasting pits for the processing of both acorns and hazelnuts. Both resources would be processed independently. One further feature with large amounts of hazelnut shells is the storage pit SJ-07, on the eastern side of the site.

Fig. 4.37. Spatial distribution of the most representative samples from Camp del Colomer according to their principal botanical component (Plan: Patrimoni Cultural d’Andorra) (see Fig. 4.22 for the correspondence

between UE and archaeological feature).

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On the other hand, the largest amounts of charred grain were found in the storage pit SJ-01, not far from most of the pits related to wild fruits. Finally, two pits were probably filled after several different actions:

SJ-24 and SJ-19. It is significant to see that the composition of the dwelling pit EI-02 is of mixed nature.

This would indicate that the diversity observed in the storage pits SJ-24 and SJ-19 can potentially be linked to house activities and it reinforces the interpretation of wild strawberry as a consumed wild fruit, since it is also present within the household context. It equally demonstrates how refuse was managed on a daily basis and that dwelling spaces were kept rather clean. This has allowed the detection of a relatively large number of samples originated by a single activity.

4.2.6. Summary and conclusions at a site level

The archaeobotanical analysis of the samples from Camp del Colomer is of major significance. First of all, the site was extensively sampled and several types of structures were included in the analysis (pits, storage pits and dwelling pits). The state of preservation of the material was very good, which allowed the identification of a relatively large botanical spectrum. The density of remains per litre of soil was rather high, which also resulted in the identification of several potential single-refuse deposits.

Naked barley was defined as the main crop at the site, at least in the area that has been excavated. Pea was also interpreted as an important cultivar. Of much significance are the identification of flax and opium poppy, since they are both very rarely found in the north-eastern region of the Iberian Peninsula.

Fields seem to have been permanent, not too intensively managed, and sown in autumn. Barley was probably grown as a monocrop. The harvest would have been low on the straw and the threshing was probably carried out in bulk. It is possible, that animals were used during threshing or that they had access to the fields, considering some of the wild plants that have been found in association with crops (e.g. Urtica dioica, Reseda luteola). Grain storage would have taken place in large storage pits. The large concentrations of charred barley grain without embryo in SJ01 were interpreted as a result of the processing (roasting?) in bulk of the grain after their storage in pits and before their storage in jars. Pottery vessels could have been used at this point to facilitate the piecemeal consumption of the grain.

Of particular significance was the identification of several features with relatively monospecific concentration of different edible wild fruits, especially acorns and hazelnuts. These fruits are usually processed before consumption and these structures have been interpreted as potential roasting pits. The concentration of these structures in one area of the site and the stratigraphic relation between them was considered indicative of the repetition of this process over a long period of time, which could have only been carried out by the same household. These interpretations equally support the issue of permanence of the site and the cultivated plots.

4.3. Serra del Mas Bonet

4.3.1. Chronology and phases

There are several occupations in this open-air site; during the Late Early Neolithic (Epicardial, 4900-4600 cal BC), Middle Neolithic (4100-3400 cal BC), Late Neolithic (3400-2700 cal BC) and Early Bronze Age (2200-1500 cal BC) (Rosillo et al. 2012). For further archaeological information on the site see chapter 3.1.3.

186 4.3.2. Aims of the study

Serra del Mas Bonet offered the possibility of analysing several open-air occupations that took place in the same area during the Vth, IVth and IIIrd millennia cal BC. Some dwelling structures from the Late Neolithic period were identified, which were of much interest for the study of plant food consumption at the site. The identification of specifically symbolic structures with menhirs and horned stelae drew new potential scenarios for our analysis, since such contexts are usually associated with feasting events or other episodes of social coalescence.

4.3.3. Materials and methods

A total number of 132 samples from 103 archaeological features were taken (Fig. III.5). A minimum of 8 litres of sediment (1 bucket full of sediment) were aimed to sample per structure, regardless of the apparent lack of archaeobotanical material during the excavation works. References in the text to features and stratigraphic units follow the nomenclature given during fieldwork: E for “feature” and C for “stratigraphic unit” or layer. Each sample was considered as a context, since they were taken from different archaeological strata identified during fieldwork by archaeologists. The only exception was in feature 1, substructure 1D (a hearth and some charcoal-rich layers within a large dwelling pit), where some samples were taken from the same context but using a grid square to facilitate the comprehension of the spatial distribution of remains within the dwelling structure. The total volume of sediment processed was 1542,5 litres. Slightly over a half of these samples were possible to ascribe to a particular phase within the Neolithic, the rest were either from the Bronze and Modern Age or impossible to assign to a particular Prehistoric period (Fig. 4.38). For this reason, from now on, unless specified, we will only deal with the 70 samples from 41 structures and 869 litres of sediment that were dated to the Neolithic period with some certainty.

Fig. 4.38. Chronological ascription of the samples, structures and volume of sediment processed from Serra del Mas Bonet.

The average volume of sediment per sample was 12,5 litres, being 42 litres the maximum and 0,5 litres the minimum. Most of the samples were of between 10 and 17 litres of sediment. All of the samples were

187

Fig. 4.39. Histogram showing the number of samples according to the volume of sediment of the samples of Serra del Mas Bonet.

All of the sampled contexts from the first two occupation phases of Serra del Mas Bonet were either pits or storage pits. These types of context were also well sampled for the final occupation phase in the Late Neolithic but other contexts were also sampled, like hearths, dwelling contexts, accumulations of charred material and especial contexts were stelae were found (Fig. 4.40). Thus, the Late Neolithic phase of occupation was the best represented at the site, the most extensively sampled and the one which could potentially yield more interesting results.

Fig. 4.40. Number of samples per period and type of context in Serra del Mas Bonet.

4.3.4. Results

A total number of 227 charred plant macroremains (other than charcoal) were obtained from the samples taken from the Neolithic occupations at Serra del Mas Bonet. The detailed results presented per sample can be found in Fig. III.6, while the results per settlement phase are presented in Fig. 4.41.

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o r sw

esCo1C C s

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“hi he” h voer   aCo aCo” Co1 vo s

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188

Fig. 4.41. Results of the seed and fruit analysis of Serra del Mas Bonet: identified taxa, counting unit and ecological group (see abbreviations in chapter 3.2.7.). The results were amalgamated per chronological phase (LEN: Late Early

Neolithic; MN: Middle Neolithic; LN: Late Neolithic).

Twelve taxa were recovered at the site: three cultivars, Hordeum vulgare, Hordeum vulgare var. nudum and Triticum aestivum/durum/turgidum; three taxa which grow at present in dry grasslands, Medicago cf.

minima, Melilotus sp. and Rumex acetosella; two taxa from woodland formations, Corylus avellana and Pinus sp.; and the rest of the taxa were not possible to ascribe to any ecological group, Lamiaceae, Poa sp., Polygonum sp., Vicia/Pisum.