Woodworking technology during the Early Neolithic: first results of the site of La Marmotta (Italy)

CARUSO FERME, LAURA; MAZZUCO NICCOLO; MINEO MARIO; GIBAJA JUAN FRANCISCO

Liverpool

Congreso; 7th International Anthracology Meeting; 2019

University of Liverpool

The archaeological site La Marmota (Italy) is a singular place in regards to conservation and recovery of wood remains. The exceptional preservation of organic material at the site allowed the recovery of five canoes and numerous objects related to navigation, agricultural and hunting activities, instruments used to the processing of raw materials and pillars used for the construction, remains of ropes and textile elements, as well as numerous macro-remains (coals and seeds of a lot of domestic and wild species).This first work summarizes the results of the study of tools linked to harvesting (sickles). The morphology and the size of the wooden sickles, as well as the anatomical characteristics, provide an excellent image of the selection of tree taxa. Deciduous Quercus sp. is the most important taxa according to the number of sickle individuals identified. However, other species were also used. Woodworking implies a deep knowledge of the natural environment and the characteristics of the wood. The sets of wooden objects found in La Marmotta site reflect the meaning of this raw material for Neolithic societies. Undoubtedly, it is the reflection of a high technological society.