The Distribution and Use of Box (Buxus sempervirens L.) in the Northeastern Iberian Peninsula During the Holocene

Abstract

The aim of this paper is to evaluate the distribution of box (Buxus sempervirens L.) in the Holocene vegetation of NE Spain and its use during prehistory. The scarcity of box in pollen records contrasts with the frequent presence of box charcoal at archaeological sites in the north-eastern Iberian Peninsula. Box charcoal has been documented in 41 Holocene sites, indicating its systematic use as firewood. To date, wooden artefacts have only been documented at La Draga, an early Neolithic site (5324-4977 cal BC) located on the shore of Lake Banyoles (Spain). The abundance of Buxus sempervirens among the artefacts is remarkable, with 85 out of 155 objects made from this wood, including sickle handles, digging sticks, wedges, adze handles, needles, combs and other objects of unknown function. The evaluation of Buxus sempervirens charcoal and pollen data from different Holocene sites, and the evidence of its use for the manufacture of objects, demonstrate the importance of this species for prehistoric societies.

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

“…According to the fossil record, B. sempervirens was present during the Pleniglacial and Late glacial across most of its modern distribution in Europe (Di Domenico et al, 2012). At the Northeast of the Iberian Peninsula the archaeobotanical records of B. sempervirens increased during the first half of the Holocene (Piqué et al, 2018a). At the site of La Draga the presence of pollen and charcoal remains of B. sempervirens are scarce.…”

“…At the site of La Draga the presence of pollen and charcoal remains of B. sempervirens are scarce. Its presence among the firewood remains in the oldest phase of occupation represents a 1.4% of the determined charcoal fragments (Piqué et al, 2018a), suggesting that this species was not abundant near the settlement. This is coherent with the poor representation of B. sempervirens pollen records at Lake Banyoles (Supplemental Table S1).…”

“…The vegetation composition during the Neolithic was very different. The analysis of pollen (Revelles et al, 2014, 2015), plant macro remains such as charcoal (Caruso-Fermé and Piqué, 2014), wood (López-Bultó and Piqué, 2018), seeds and fruits (Antolín, 2016), and plant-based implements (Bosch et al, 2006; Piqué et al, 2018a) has allowed a precise picture of the landscape during the occupation to be obtained. At the closest surroundings of the settlement the dominant vegetation was represented by hygrophilous plants, such swamp sawgrass ( Cladium mariscus ), bulrush (Cyperaceae), rushes (Juncaceae), aquatic mint ( Mentha aquatica) , and a riparian forest with ash trees ( Fraxinus sp.…”

“…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.…”

Editorial: Archaeobotany in the Wider Landscape

“…The following paper examines the distribution and use of boxwood in the northeast Iberian Peninsula during the Holocene. Piqué et al (2018) combine different kinds of archaeobotanical proxiespollen, wood, charcoal, and leavesand their results highlight the importance of integrating different lines of evidence. Boxwood is underrepresented in the pollen record, despite having been widespread in the area considered, from sea level to high altitudes and from north to south.…”