Woodworking in the cliffs? Xylological and morpho-technological analyses of wood remains in the Prehispanic granaries of Gran Canaria (Canary Islands, Spain)

Vidal-Matutano, Paloma; Rodríguez, Amelia Rodríguez; Marrero, María del Cristo González; Morales, Jacob; Henríquez-Valido, Pedro; Moreno-Benítez, Marco

doi:10.1016/j.quaint.2020.09.055

Cited by 15 publications

(7 citation statements)

References 34 publications

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“…Woodworking involves a profound knowledge of the availability and the physical and mechanical properties of different species of wood or additional factors that affect its selection strategies (Vidal‐Matutano et al, 2021). For a bow, when it is bent, wood is subjected to two opposing forces: The back is stretched whereas the belly is compressed (Hamm, 2019).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Prehistoric wooden bows and arrows in the Turpan Basin, Northwest China: Wood selection and utilization in a mosaic landscape

Nong

Zhang

Wang³

et al. 2023

Archaeometry

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In the present study, we analyzed seven wooden bows and 13 arrows excavated from the cemeteries of Subeixi Culture (13th century BCE–AD second century) in the Turpan Basin, northwest China. A total of six taxa, viz. Morus sp., Salix sp., Picea sp., Lonicera sp., Betula sp., and Tamarix sp. were identified. Some of these taxa have been generally accepted to be suitable for bow‐and‐arrow production. All these taxa were local in origin but distributed in different ecotonal zones, including oases, saline‐alkali lands, and mountain areas. Previous archaeological studies have confirmed that the Subeixi populations lived an agro‐pastoral life. By analyzing the possible provenance of these wood samples, it can be hypothesized that these ancient agro‐pastoralists moved between the Turpan Basin and the Tianshan Mountains on a seasonal basis.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Prehistoric wooden bows and arrows in the Turpan Basin, Northwest China: Wood selection and utilization in a mosaic landscape

Nong

Zhang

Wang³

et al. 2023

Archaeometry

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“…Other recent research, on the other hand, has provided new data on the use of wood, herbs or fruits, along with crops, in other archaeological sites such as settlements, domestic contexts, cave granaries, and so on (Morales-Mateos 2003, 2010; Morales-Mateos & al. 2017; Vidal-Matutano & al. 2021b).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Can material of a putatively extinct new species of Ruta (Rutaceae), preserved with mummies, provide new knowledge about evolution in the Canary Islands flora?

et al. 2023

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Based on analyses carried out with plant material found in mummy shrouds preserved in the archaeological museum El Museo Canario, a putatively extinct new species of Ruta (Rutaceae) was identified and is described here as R. museocanariensis. The mummies were found in the funerary sites of Acusa and the Barranco de Guayadeque on Gran Canaria, Canary Islands, Spain. This article discusses taxonomic relationships with other species of the genus, aspects of colonization and evolutionary processes on islands. The archaeological plant material consists of vegetative and reproductive branches with leaves, remains of flowers and capsules. Several morphological traits, especially the type of fruits, establish a clear difference between Ruta species from Gran Canaria and the mainland (dehiscent) and species from the W Canary Islands (indehiscent). The discovery of R. museocanariensis, with dehiscent fruits, suggests that indehiscence is a post-colonization evolutionary process in the Canary Islands. It also supports a stepping-stone model of inter-island colonization with Gran Canaria as its starting point, in agreement with the age of the islands and to some extent with their distance from the mainland.

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“…They include shaped objects without a clear function, as well as those interpreted as digging sticks, weapons, fire drills, tool handles, hearth structures, poison applicators and dwelling structures (e.g. Aranguren et al 2018;Bamforth 2017;Carbonell & Castro-Curel 1992;Caruso-Fermé et al 2021;d'Errico et al 2012;López-Bultó & Piqué Huerta 2018;Nadel et al 2006;Rios-Garaizar et al 2018;Schoch et al 2015;Vidal-Matutano et al 2021). Yet, in comparison with stone and bone tool technologies, a technological approach to wooden tools from archaeological sites attributed to stone-tool using cultures remains under-developed; it lacks established nomenclature and protocols, and there is a dearth of experimental and ethnographic comparative datasets.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…This glossary and code relies upon ongoing research and experience of the authors, alongside recent publications that also undertake systematic analyses and descriptions of wood technologies and traces from stone-tool using cultures (e.g. Aranguren et al 2018;Bamforth et al 2018;Caruso-Fermé et al 2021;López-Bultó et al 2020;Martellotta et al 2021;Vidal-Matutano et al 2021). While it forms the foundation for our ongoing analysis and documentation of the wet and conserved woods from the Pleistocene site of Schöningen (Germany), we hope it may also provide a means for collaboration and communication with those working on wood from other Pleistocene and Holocene sites.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In addition, general terms and natural terms are required. We provide English terms, an associated code, and definitions, often based on or modified from publications that we reference, with special acknowledgements to publications by Vidal-Matutano et al (2021), andLópez-Bultó et al (2020) for definitions. We also provide terms and definitions in German, and welcome translations in other languages from our colleagues for future versions.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Wood technology: a Glossary and Code for analysis of archaeological wood from stone tool cultures

Milks¹,

Lehmann²,

Böhner³

et al. 2021

Preprint

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A technological approach to the analysis of wooden artefacts from stone-tool using cultures remains underdeveloped relative to technologies from other materials such as stone and bone. However, in recent years archaeologists have begun to approach wood assemblages in a systematic manner, including macro- and micro-analyses of traces, and conducting experiments to build reference samples on manufacturing, use and taphonomy. However, there is as yet a lack of established nomenclature that would facilitate intra-site comparisons. Therefore, this glossary and associated code is a first step to initiate a synthesis and standardisation of analytical terms for early wood technologies from stone-tool cultures. An agreement and clear definition of terms is useful to avoid confusion and overlaps pertaining to all phases that help us understand the biography of wooded artefacts. This glossary and code relies both on the collective expertise of the authors as well as on existing publications, particularly those reflecting recent systematic analyses and descriptions of wood technologies and traces from stone-tool using cultures. As a work in progress, we hope to collaborate and communicate with others working on archaeological wood, particularly pertaining to assemblages from stone-tool using cultures.

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Woodworking in the cliffs? Xylological and morpho-technological analyses of wood remains in the Prehispanic granaries of Gran Canaria (Canary Islands, Spain)

Cited by 15 publications

References 34 publications

Prehistoric wooden bows and arrows in the Turpan Basin, Northwest China: Wood selection and utilization in a mosaic landscape

Prehistoric wooden bows and arrows in the Turpan Basin, Northwest China: Wood selection and utilization in a mosaic landscape

Can material of a putatively extinct new species of Ruta (Rutaceae), preserved with mummies, provide new knowledge about evolution in the Canary Islands flora?

Wood technology: a Glossary and Code for analysis of archaeological wood from stone tool cultures

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