Previous archaeobotanical analyses

The first investigations at the site in 2005 were carried out as a rescue excavation. The samples were processed by the archaeological team and the plant macroremains were analysed by R. Buxó (Buxó 2007b).

These remains came from Structure 2 (Sector 0). A concentration of fruit stones of Crataegus monogyna (MNI: 216) was identified.

4.4.4. Materials and methods

A large number of samples were taken during the several seasons of excavation of La Dou. Fifty-four of these samples were processed for this study (Fig. III.7). Of these, 41 were assigned to the Neolithic period (29 to the Late Early Neolithic and 12 to the Early Middle Neolithic). Ten samples were dated to the Iron Age. For this reason, they were not included in further analyses.

The chronological ascription of the samples was difficult to carry out. Some C14 dates (on charred grain) were obtained, but finds of pottery fragments were scarce, and these were very small and uninformative, for which the chronology of many features was unknown. For this evaluation, nearby contexts were ascribed to the same period, especially when they presented some spatial correlation (similar depths, meaningful spatial disposition, following at all times the observations done by archaeologists). It was also decided to divide the samples into two “settlement phases”, one in the Late Early Neolithic, and one in the Early Middle Neolithic. It is, for the moment, impossible to demonstrate whether these settlement phases could actually be

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the outcome of several occupation phases or just one long period of occupation. In any case, it was considered practical for a palaeoeconomic evaluation of the data to divide the results into two chronological phases.

It must also be noted that there were some further difficulties with the identification of the origin of the samples, since their labelling was frequently too imprecise. This was solved, most of the times, with the help of the archaeologists, but some samples were not possible to identify due to their problematic labelling.

These were: “superficial sample NW”, “Layer 3” and “Lower layer”.

Even though, strictly speaking, judgement samples were taken at this site, it must be highlighted that there was a big effort in sampling as many features as possible, making the sampling rather systematic. One of the difficulties of the excavation of La Dou was the absence of clear occupational layers. If anything, only negative structures were visible, especially those which were richer in charred organic material. For this reason, the most frequently sampled types of contexts were charcoal-rich layers and hearths in pits (Fig.

4.45).

Fig. 4.45. Number of samples per type of context in La Dou.

The average volume of sediment taken per sample was of 14.57 litres. Most of the samples were of around ten litres or less (n: 25), while only around 8 samples were clearly above 20 litres of sediment (Fig. 4.46).

All samples were processed with the aid of a flotation machine.

charcoal-­‐rich  layer   hearth  

occupaJon  layer   pit  

posthole   unknown  

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Fig. 4.46. Relation between the number of samples and the volume of sediment processed in La Dou.

4.4.5. Results

A small number of charred plant macroremains, 174, were retrieved from the samples from Neolithic contexts of La Dou site (see Fig. III.8). Fourteen taxa were identified: two cultivars, Hordeum vulgare var.

nudum and Triticum aestivum/durum/turgidum; seven taxa that belonged to the weeds and ruderals group, Avena sp., Chenopodium album, Galium aparine subsp. aparine, G. aparine subsp. spurium, Papaver sp., Polycnemum arvense and Polygonum convolvulus; four taxa come from woodland areas, Cornus sanguinea, Crataegus sp., Corylus avellana; one from lakeshore or riverside woodland formations, Vitis vinifera subsp.

sylvestris; and 1 from woodland edges and clearings, Rubus fruticosus.

4.4.5.1.The number of items and taxa per context

Among the few samples which yielded plant remains (17 out of 41), most of them presented a very low amount, between 1 and 5 plant macroremains (n: 13) (see Fig. III.8). Only two samples yielded more than 35 plant remains: “Combustion residues NW”, which dates to the Late Early Neolithic, and Layer 1 from Pit 2, which dates to the Early Middle Neolithic, both in sector G (Fig. III.8). A similar pattern was observed when considering the number of taxa per context. Most samples yielded 3 taxa or less, while only three samples allowed the recovery of 4 or 5 taxa (Fig. III.8). It is significant to note that the highest concentration of remains was found in sample Layer 1 Pit 2 (8,33 r/l), dated to the Late Early Neolithic, being in most cases below 0,3 r/l.

For these reasons, the results at a context level will barely be discussed here (see the complete results per context in Fig. III.8). They will only be presented in amalgamated form per chronological phase (Fig. 4.47).

4.4.5.2.The number of items and taxa per chronological phase

The number of items per phase was rather low, especially for the Late Early Neolithic. 53 plant remains were retrieved, 19 of which were not identifiable. On the other hand, 121 plant remains were obtained for the Early Middle Neolithic phase (Fig. 4.47).

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Fig. 4.47. Results of the seed and fruit analysis of La Dou: 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; EMN: Early Middle Neolithic).

4.4.5.3.The botanical spectrum per phase and type of context

The number of taxa from each phase is not so dissimilar, since 12 taxa were identified for the first one and 14 for the second.

In the Late Early Neolithic, some remains of cultivars were identified, more specifically, of cereals, but it was not possible to tell the type of cereal due to their poor state of preservation. Several ruderals were recovered, like Avena sp., G. aparine subsp. aparine, Papaver sp. and Polycnemum arvense. Among the wild fruits from woodland areas, Cornus sanguinea and Corylus avellana were also found. Corylus and Vitis, in fact, could have been gathered in the lakeshore woods around the palaeolake that was located close to La Dou site. Finally, some taxa from woodland edges and clearings, like Rubus fruticosus, were identified.

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The spectrum for the Early Middle Neolithic phase was partly similar. Some identifiable cultivated cereals were recovered, including H. vulgare var. nudum and T. aestivum/durum/turgidum. The spectrum of weeds and ruderals was rather reduced, with some taxa which had been identified in the previous phase (Avena sp., G. aparine subsp. aparine or Polycnemum arvense) but also others like G. aparine subsp. spurium and Polygonum convolvulus. Only one fragment of shell of hazelnut, a fragment of fruitstone of Crataegus sp.

and one pip of wild grape were retrieved. Specially significant was the large number of legumes (Vicieae group) that were recovered.

Concerning the general distribution of the taxa per type of context, it is significant to note that cereals and weeds were recovered in hearths, other accumulations of charred remains and occupational layers. Wild fruits were not recovered in occupational layers, only in hearths, charcoal-rich layers and Pit 2 (sector G).

4.4.6. Discussion

4.4.6.1.Was the sampling strategy adequate? What should be considered for future works at the site?

Large efforts were done at the site of La Dou in order to carry out a sampling strategy which was as systematic as possible. Nevertheless, the obtained results were rather poor. This might partly respond to the volume of the samples. The largest number of items was mostly obtained from samples of more than 15 litres and one concentration of material in a sample of 6 litres of volume (Layer 1, Pit 2). Besides, 13 out of 17 samples with charred plant macroremains were either hearths or accumulations of charcoal. Post holes did not produce any plant macroremains other than charcoal. The main reason for the scarcity of plant macroremains was not the sampling strategy. This is due to the poor preservation of charred remains at the site. Nevertheless, it is recommended to take larger samples (20-50 litres), when possible, in future work.

Fig. 4.48. Relation between the volume of the samples and the number of items obtained in La Dou.

5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45

Nr. remains 0

8 16 24 32 40 48 56 64

Volume (l.)

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4.4.6.2. Insights into plant food economy at the site of La Dou

Despite the meagre results, some interesting points can be proposed in order to approach plant food economy at La Dou site.

First of all, it is important to comment on the appearance of cultivars at the site. These are present in the two chronological phases. Their representation, though, is somewhat better for the second phase. Both naked wheat and barley were rather equally represented by a small number of remains. No further aspects concerning their cultivation can be put forward.

Concerning the distribution of cereals per type of context, it is interesting to see that they were recovered in hearths, in the Late Early Neolithic phase, and in hearths, accumulations of charred material and occupation layers, in the Early Middle Neolithic phase. Therefore, one could conclude that they were likely processed and consumed at the site, and that these remains would be the result of such activities.

Other cultivars might be present at the site, even though it is not possible to ascertain their real economic status at this stage of research. The seed of Papaver could belong to the group of cultivars. Unfortunately, its state of preservation did not allow its identification to species level and the number of recovered items does not support such interpretation, for the moment.

Finally, the relatively high number of seeds of the Vicieae group (present in 5 of the 10 samples with plant macroremains of the Early Middle Neolithic phase) might correspond either to their systematic collection as wild plants for alimentary purposes, or to weeds from arable land or to their possible cultivation and consumption. Unfortunately, they were not identifiable to genus or species level. Finally, it should be mentioned that the potential weeds would at least indicate permanent fields.

Taxa   Fruits   Flowers   Young  shoots   Aerial  parts   Roots   Edibility  

Fig. 4.49. Ethnobotanically known uses among the plants that were identified in the seed and fruit record of La Dou and edible and medicinal ranks for each taxon (from www.pfaf.org).

Concerning the role of wild plants in the economy, it was considered interesting to check the known uses of the identified taxa from ethnobotanical records (Leporatti & Ivancheva 2003, Tardío, Pardo-de-Santayana &

Morales 2006), as well as the PFAF database, in order to take into account the edibility and medicinal ranks of these taxa (see Fig. 4.49).

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Among the edible plants, none of the weeds and ruderals are clearly included, except for Chenopodium album. Instead, all of the identified woody taxa can be considered as edible, some of them with important medicinal value, such as Crataegus monogyna. It must be reminded that a concentration of more than 200 of these fruits was found in one structure (E-2, from sector 0, probably from the Early Middle Neolithic phase) and analysed by R. Buxó. This concentration could have originated due to the use of branches with fruits as fuel, but it is unlikely (only Buxus sempervirens was identified in the charcoal record from this hearth (Mensua & Piqué 2007a)), especially considering the fact that the flesh of the fruits was not preserved. The kernels could have been discarded after the consumption of the fruits. It is significant to note that the assemblage was highly fragmented (only 44 complete stones were recovered), for which they could have been intentionally crushed during some processing. Other potentially edible fruits were found.

Unfortunately, the seeds of Sambucus sp. were not possible to identify to species level and their economic use is difficult to establish.

Several of the woody taxa appear in both chronological phases, which supports a hypothetical continuity of the exploitation of similar resources and environments. Their repeated appearance, despite the small assemblage recovered, should be interpretable on palaeoeconomic terms. It should be assumed that it is very likely that the consumption of wild fruits at the site was relatively often and economically significant. The presence of taxa like Vitis might be indicators of the economic exploitation of lakeshore areas.