Abstract
More
than 3500 individual pieces of waterlogged archaeobotanical remains
were found in the excavation of the Roman healing spa of Aquae Flaviae
(Chaves, Portugal), carried out between 2006 and 2013. Most of these
were recovered in stratigraphic units sealed by the brick barrel vault
collapse in last decade of the 4th century AD.
The
waterlogged material studied, included several types of
archaeobotanical remains: timber used for construction (beams, poles,
boards and wedges), wooden objects (combs, bowls and containers, corks,
handles, spindle whorls, etc.) and macro carpological remains (seeds,
fruits, pine scales and cones, etc.). The study of the wood assemblage
was focused firstly on the identification of the material selected for
woodworking and also on providing answers regarding the technical and
technological features used in manufacturing these items. Regarding
fruits and seeds, the analysis was oriented towards macro remains
species identification.
A selection of species
for specific purposes was clearly identified both in timber pieces and
in several types of objects as well as the carving of specific features
in these pieces according to its function. Active management of wood
resources could also be inferred. Furthermore, relevant information was
gathered concerning the presence of Pinus pinea, Castanea sativa, Buxus sempervirens and several species of the Prunus family, which show great importance on a regional or supra regional levels. The first presence of cypress tree (Cupressus sempervirens) during Roman times in western Iberia was also identified.
Keywords
- Archaeobotany;
- Waterlogged preservation;
- Woodworking;
- Fruits and seeds;
- NW Iberia;
- Roman healing spa
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