Characterizing prehistoric archery: technical and functional analyses of the Neolithic bows from La Draga (NE Iberian Peninsula)

Piqué, Raquel; Palomo, Antoni; Terradas, Xavier; Tarrús, Josep; Buxó, Ramon; Bosch, Àngel; Chinchilla, Júlia; Bodganovic, Igor; López‐Bultó, Oriol; Seguí, María Sañá

doi:10.1016/j.jas.2015.01.005

Cited by 43 publications

(8 citation statements)

References 24 publications

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“…Other taxa were only used for specific purposes. For example, B. sempervirens and T. baccata are nearly absent as firewood residues, but they were used to elaborate instruments (Piqué et al, 2015, 2018a) (Supplemental Table S1). B. sempervirens was the main raw material used for the elaboration of instruments at la Draga, among them digging sticks, several types of handles, spindles-like objects, and combs.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Buxus sempervirens and Laurus nobilis leaves from an archaeological site at 7300 cal BP (La Draga, Spain) provide a better understanding of past vegetation and human activities

et al. 2020

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Leaves are valuable, but very rare, remains in archaeological contexts, as they can provide precise information on the landscape vegetation composition, the past climatic conditions and the use of plant resources in a settlement. La Draga (Spain) is an early Neolithic site partially waterlogged, which has allowed the preservation of organic material. During the excavation of the oldest level (7300–7000 cal BP), we recovered 29 leaf samples in an optimal state of preservation. Here we explore the potential of these leaves as indicators both of the use of vegetation at the settlement and of past climatic conditions. Firstly, we determined the species identity by comparing the leaf morphological and microanatomical traits with those of contemporary individuals. Secondly, we analyzed the leaf stomatal patterning (stomatal density, index, and size) as proxies of paleoclimate during the Neolithic, when lower atmospheric CO2 and wetter conditions are documented. The leaves of La Draga were identified as Laurus nobilis and Buxus sempervirens, two evergreen species well documented at the site from other archaeobotanical records, such as charcoal and wooden implements. We found no differences in stomatal traits between the archaeological and the contemporary leaves of L. nobilis and B. sempervirens, which shows the limitation of stomatal frequency as proxies for CO2. The presence of these species at the site provides good complementary data for past woodland vegetation composition and the production of wood implements. The wide distribution of L. nobilis leaves across the site suggests that this taxon was present in the riparian forest at the site surroundings. In contrast, leaves of B. sempervirens were grouped together, which might indicate that they belonged to the same branch, probably transported as raw material from nearby forests to the settlement. This study illustrates the value of archaeological leaves to provide a better understanding on the past vegetation and human activities.

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Buxus sempervirens and Laurus nobilis leaves from an archaeological site at 7300 cal BP (La Draga, Spain) provide a better understanding of past vegetation and human activities

et al. 2020

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“…Many poles and numerous plant and animal macrofossils have been found, as well as an exceptionally conserved yew bow ( Taxus baccata ) and oak paddle ( Quercus subg. Quercus ) (Palomo et al, 2013; Piqué et al, 2015). On the basis of pottery and lithic industry finds, supported by radiocarbon dating, the site has been assigned to the late Cardial culture of the Western Mediterranean (Tarrús et al, 1994), that is, between 5430 and 5020 BC (Morales Hidalgo et al, 2010; Palomo et al, 2014).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Paleoparasitological investigations on the Neolithic lakeside settlement of La Draga (Lake Banyoles, Spain)

et al. 2017

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Paleoparasitological analyses were conducted on samples from the Neolithic lakeside settlement of La Draga in Spain (5320-4980 BC). Conventional microscopic analysis revealed the presence of tapeworms (genus Taenia/Echinoccocus and Diphyllobothrium), roundworms (genus Trichuris, Capillaria, and Ascaris), rumen fluke (genus Paramphistomum), and Acanthocephalan (genus Macracanthorhynchus). In addition, genetic analysis demonstrated the presence of the lancet liver fluke (Dicrocoelium dendriticum) and the human pinworm (Enterobius vermicularis) at the site. These results represent the first parasitological data from a Neolithic lakeside settlement related to the Cardial Pottery Culture. Some parasites are comparable with those retrieved from Neolithic lakeside sites studied in France, Germany, and Switzerland, which stem from and are posterior to the Linear Band Keramic Culture. However, some taxa were identified here for the first time during the Neolithic period, or represent the oldest mention of these parasites. This new paleoparasitological contribution reinforces our knowledge of intestinal parasites in Neolithic populations and provides new data on their history.

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“…The most important of these is Lake Banyoles (Catalonia). Here, a large-scale research project at the early Neolithic site of La Draga has documented a settlement of one of the earliest farming communities in the western Mediterranean, with magnificent preservation of organic remains such as wooden artefacts and plant fibres, dating between c. 5300 and 5000 cal BC (Bosch et al 2000(Bosch et al , 2011(Bosch et al , 2012Piqué et al 2015). Other examples are the Mesolithic sites of Albufera de Anna in Valencia (Aparicio 1975) and some megalithic monuments flooded by reservoirs in Extremadura (Matamoros et al 2013(Matamoros et al -2015.…”

Section: Conditions Of Preservation and Discoverymentioning

confidence: 99%

Spain: Underwater Exploration on a Narrow Continental Shelf

Arias

2020

The Archaeology of Europe’s Drowned Landscapes

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In spite of Spain's long coastline (nearly 8000 km) and its well-established tradition in underwater archaeology, the prehistoric settlement of the continental shelf is practically unknown with very few finds. Underwater research has focused on naval archaeology and, until very recently, no attempt had been made to look for prehistoric underwater sites. In the past decade, new research projects have been launched to explore selected areas on the Cantabrian shelf and offshore of Gibraltar. This chapter summarises the currently available evidence of submerged prehistoric archaeology and the preliminary results of these new projects.

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Characterizing prehistoric archery: technical and functional analyses of the Neolithic bows from La Draga (NE Iberian Peninsula)

Cited by 43 publications

References 24 publications

Buxus sempervirens and Laurus nobilis leaves from an archaeological site at 7300 cal BP (La Draga, Spain) provide a better understanding of past vegetation and human activities

Buxus sempervirens and Laurus nobilis leaves from an archaeological site at 7300 cal BP (La Draga, Spain) provide a better understanding of past vegetation and human activities

Paleoparasitological investigations on the Neolithic lakeside settlement of La Draga (Lake Banyoles, Spain)

Spain: Underwater Exploration on a Narrow Continental Shelf

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