NEW APPROACHES TO THE STUDY OF THE WOODEN TOOLS FROM THE

NEOLITHIC SITE OF LA DRAGA (BANYOLES, SPAIN)

5350-5000 cal BC

LEVEL 1 (5350-5200 cal BC) LEVEL 2 (5150-5000 cal BC)

ARCHITECTONICAL WOODS:

Have been classified into two categories: 1) Vertical sticks and posts: at least one end inserted into the lake marl, 2) Horizontal wood: these are wooden elements that stay above the lake marl, usually in horizontal position.

Can provide paleo-envirenmental information, forest management, wood obtention, space management, building techniques, social organization.

1) Vertical posts 2) Horitzontal wood

NO WORKED WOOD:

Little branches and other no worked woody elements.

Can provide paleo-envirenmental, forest management, wood obtention, working areas,…

Objectives of the wooden studies is to expand our knowledge about:

- Landscape composition.

- Forest management and wood obtention

- Woodworking technology

- Uses of wood

- Wooden architecture

- Activity areas related to woodworking and space management

• Anatomical studies:

UNWORKED WOOD: taxonomic diversity Phase I

Taxon: % Quercus (deciduous) 815 90

Laurus 39 4

Corylus 8 0,8 Populus 4 0,4

Salix 4 0,4 Vitis 2 0,2

Rubus 2 0,2 Clematis 4 0,4

Rosaceae 2 0,2 Buxus 1 0,1 Monocot 4 0,4

ND 16 1,8 TOTAL 901 100

UNWORKED WOOD: taxonomic diversity Phase I per square metre

UNWORKED WOOD: obtaining season

0 6 12 18 24 30 36 42 48 540

4

8

12

16

20

24

28

32

36

Freq

uenc

y

A

0

6

12

18

24

30

36

42

48

54

Y

UNWORKED WOOD: SECTION SIZE

A systematic sampling strategy allows a

better characterization of the

assemblage. For instance:

• Gathering of the wood mainly towards

the end of the summer

• Rather homogeneous pattern in the

diameter of the wood (12-18 mm)

• Morphological studies:

Ethnography and actualisms

Experimentation

Pointed and doble-pointed sticks

taxon length diameter section

Double-

pointed sticks buxus

285/355 (525)

mm 20/35 mm angular

Pointed stick buxus, corylus, laurus,

arbutus, Pomoideae 1300/500 mm 15/30 mm cylindircal

Pointed stick

buxus,

quercus cad,

Pomoideae

870/290 mm 35/45 mm cylindrical

Pointed stick buxus,

quercus Caducifoli 700/400 mm

30/15

20/10 oval

Problems studying traceology in wood

• Clays

Wood experimentation

Experimental double pointed stick nº4

Scan analysis

Volum Length Width

mm3 mm to 45mm to 35mm to 25mm to 15mm to 8mm to 4mm to 2mm

Before 3309,70 45,47 27,60 26,62 26,56 25,24 19,54 15,91 11,63

After 3221,90 41,21 26,53 26,01 25,33 22,21 9,28 5,68 0,00

% lost -2,65 -9,37 -3,88 -2,29 -4,63 -12,00 -53,51 -64,3 -100,00

Scan analysis

Scan analysis

Scan analysis (mm) Strach 1 Strach 2 Strach 3 Strach 4 Strach 5 Strach 6 Strach 7

length 5,02 9,68 1,35 5,28 5,91 4,56 5,40

Width 6 - 0,85 - 0,59 - - -

Depth 6 - 0,04 - 0,02 - - -

Width 5 0,87 0,93 - 0,60 - - 0,70

Depth 5 0,06 0,10 - 0,02 - - 0,02

Width 4 0,50 0,64 - 0,77 0,76 - 0,87

Depth 4 0,03 0,03 - 0,07 0,06 - 0,04

Width 3 - 2,48 0,93 - 1,07 0,81 -

Depth 3 - 0,36 0,07 - 0,15 0,08 -

Width 2 - 1,84 - - 1,00 1,47 -

Depth 2 - 0,57 - - 0,17 0,15 -

Scan analysis (VI) (mm) Strach 1 Strach 2 Strach 5 Strach 8

length 4,5 8,44 3,83 9,83

Width 5 0,49 0,77 - 0,35

Depth 5 0,02 0,08 - 0,02

Width 4 0,54 0,99 - 0,89

Depth 4 0,05 0,09 - 0,06

Width 3 - 1,17 0,68 0,65

Depth 3 - 0,15 0,26 0,05

Width 2 - 1,84 0,93 0,71

Depth 2 - 0,45 0,15 0,04

Width 1 - - - 0,78

Depth 1 - - - 0,04

Scan analysis

CONCLUSIONS

• Manipulate waterlogged materials

• Easy to move to the field

• 3D models worked digitally

• Objective measures and studies

¿Micro use-wear?