Charcoal from the Congo Basin : palaeo-botanical evidence for climate change?

C

Charcoal analysis of lime kiln remains in Southern France : an original process of mediaeval and modern traditional lime burning

In Southern France, little has been known concerning the techniques used for lime burning. Recent archaeological research (excavations and surveys) provides evidence of a new lime burning process using a little sole to shaft and high stokehole. These lime kiln elements have been recognized in sites such as Saint-Blaise-de-Bauzon (XIIIth century, Bollène, Vaucluse), earthenware factory Favier (XVIIth century, Montpellier, Hérault) and the Homme Mort Valley (XVIIth century, Peynier, Bouches-du-Rhône). These new archaeological data allow the re-evaluation of the development of this activity and associated firewood management. Several kilns have been excavated in the Lower Provence (France), especially in the high Arc Valley area, aiming at a better understanding of the links between kiln construction and architecture and fire control. A sampling protocol of charcoal has been defined, experimented and improved during excavation work. The careful excavation and sampling of the charcoal layers is followed by microtopography of the kiln in order to identify the morphology / pattern of the fireplace. Fine sieving (0,2 mm mesh) allows the recovery of even the smallest charred biological remains (twigs, spines, leafs) and the reconstruction of the technical process of supplying the fire with wood. Charcoal analysis has taken in account diverse factors. After the anatomical identification of the species, all the specimens have been calibrated; statistical results thus obtained testify to the use of kindling wood (from scrub vegetation). The bark is often preserved allowing us to identify the cutting season. Further charred botanical remains (leaves and spines) were studied in Montpellier (Institut de Botanique) and point to the use of a taper at the bottom of fireplace to light the fire, at the very begining of the burning. This process is well suited for a lime burning kiln provided with a high stokehole. This new conception of lime production leads to the re-interpretation of the results from old excavations all over the Northern-Western Mediterranean basin, especially in Tunisia and central Italy.Les techniques de fabrication de la chaux sont assez méconnues dans le Midi de la France. Des recherches récentes (fouilles archéologiques et prospections) ont mis en évidence l'existence d'un procédé de cuisson au moyen d'une petite voûte à cheminée et gueule haute. Cette disposition des éléments du four à chaux est désormais connue sur plusieurs sites de productions de chaux à Saint-Blaise-de-Bauzon (XIIIe siècle, Bollène, Vaucluse, France), à la faïencerie Favier (XVIIe siècle, Montpellier, Hérault, France) ou dans le vallon de l'Homme Mort (XVIIe siècle, Peynier, Bouches-du-Rhône, France). Elle vient renouveler la vision acquise par l'archéologie sur cet artisanat et implique une gestion du feu spécifique. Plusieurs fours ont été fouillés en basse Provence (France), notamment dans le secteur de la haute Vallée de l'Arc, afin de comprendre les liens qui existent entre la disposition des éléments techniques du four et la gestion de la cuisson. Un protocole de prélèvements anthracologiques a été élaboré et affiné au fil des opérations archéologiques. Après un décapage minutieux de la couche de charbons, un relevé microtopographique est réalisé pour saisir la morphologie des restes du foyer, puis les charbons sont prélevés à la manière des places de charbonnières. Un tamisage très fin est ensuite effectué, permettant de récolter les végétaux carbonisés les plus petits (brindilles, épines, feuilles) et de reconstruire la chaîne opératoire technique de l'alimentation en combustible du feu par les chaufourniers. L'analyse anthracologique a tenu compte de plusieurs paramètres. Outre la caractérisation des espèces, les charbons de bois ont été calibrés afin d'établir une étude statistique pour montrer l'utilisation de fagots de broussailles. La saison d'abattage a été déterminée grâce à la conservation fréquente de l'écorce. L'analyse anthracologique a été complétée par une identification botanique réalisée à l'Université de Montpellier II sur les feuilles et épines carbonisées, mettant en évidence l'utilisation d'une mèche à la base du foyer servant à allumer le feu au début de la cuisson, procédé tout à fait adapté à la cuisson de la chaux avec gueule haute. Cette nouvelle approche de l'artisanat de la chaux permet de réinterpréter les résultats de fouilles de ce type d'installations découvertes plus anciennement dans le Sud de la France, mais aussi dans d'autres régions du pourtour de la Méditerranée, comme en Tunisie ou en Italie centrale

A step forward in tropical anthracology: understanding woodland vegetation and wood uses in ancient Sri Lanka based on charcoal records from Mantai, Kirinda and Kantharodai

The aim of this study is to present the anthracological results from three archaeological sites located in the North, North West and South East of Sri Lanka. The study is based on the observation and analysis of 1689 charcoal fragments using for support the reference collection of South Indian wood at the Institute of Archaeology ( UCL), Inside Wood (2004-onwards) and several wood anatomy atlases. Mantai (200 BCE-850 CE), an urban site, has yielded 25 taxa with significant presence of cf. Cocos nucifera among other taxa. Kantharodai (400-170- BCE), an urban site, has yielded 19 taxa from arid zones (Fabaceae, Rubiaceae), mangroves (Rhizophoraceae) and dune zones (cf. Cocos nucifera). Kirinda (500–900 CE), a fishing settlement, has yielded 24 taxa including Fabaceae (Dalbergia, Acacia) and Rubiaceae, belonging to dry deciduous forest and open savannas. This collective data set allows for the identification of discernible patterns related to the use of ecological interfaces between the forest and the open plains, used and actively managed by humans, and the possibility to identify if this changed with an increase in maritime trade and/or changes in agriculture over time. This study provides evidence of the differences in the vegetation present as well as use of wood fuel and other specific uses of wood for each site examined. It also sheds new light on tropical anthracology regarding quantification and accuracy in taxa identification

Neolithic woodland in the north Mediterranean basin: A review on Olea europaea L.

The aim of this paper is to specify the natural distribution of Olea europaea L. during the Early Holocene in the Northern Mediterranean by means of the identification of wood charcoal remains of this species at prehistoric sites. For this purpose, we have reviewed the relevant literature and extracted the data in which Olea charcoal has been identified. We have taken into consideration the biogeographical and chrono-cultural contexts in which the species is present, its frequency of occurrence at different locations and the associated plant taxa with the aim of tracking the Holocene history of the oleaster. Based on this information we suggest that the species started expanding during the Preboreal from Pleistocene thermophilous tree refugia located in the Levant, Cyprus, Sicily and the southern parts of the Iberian Peninsula. Its presence was confined to the thermomediterraenan bioclimatic level. The expansion dynamics of Olea after the Boreal are better understood in the western Mediterranean. There the species becomes very abundant or dominant in the thermophilous plant formations of the Atlantic period and expands to favorable enclaves outside the limits of the thermomediterraenan bioclimatic level.The aim of this paper is to specify the natural distribution of Olea europaea L. during the Early Holocene in the Northern Mediterranean by means of the identification of wood charcoal remains of this species at prehistoric sites. For this purpose, we have reviewed the relevant literature and extracted the data in which Olea charcoal has been identified. We have taken into consideration the biogeographical and chrono-cultural contexts in which the species is present, its frequency of occurrence at different locations and the associated plant taxa with the aim of tracking the Holocene history of the oleaster. Based on this information we suggest that the species started expanding during the Preboreal from Pleistocene thermophilous tree refugia located in the Levant, Cyprus, Sicily and the southern parts of the Iberian Peninsula. Its presence was confined to the thermomediterraenan bioclimatic level. The expansion dynamics of Olea after the Boreal are better understood in the western Mediterranean. There the species becomes very abundant or dominant in the thermophilous plant formations of the Atlantic period and expands to favorable enclaves outside the limits of the thermomediterraenan bioclimatic level

Reconstructing the history of the silva carbonaria, an enigmatic charcoal-burners-forest in Central Belgium

The Sonian forest, situated south of Brussels, is one of the last remnants of a vast forest that is believed to have covered the larger part of central Belgium up to at least the end of the Early Medieval period and which is mentioned as the silva carbonaria (Latin for ‘charcoal burners forest’) in several historical texts. The strict reserves within the forest, together with several other European old growth beech forests, were listed as a UNESCO world heritage site since 2017. Extensive archives allow us to reconstruct its history over the last 500 years, yet, little is known however on the extent, composition and exploitation of this forest before that time.. We now present the preliminary results of an interdisciplinary study of archaeological remains of charcoal and metal production sites from this forest, which provide a lot of new information on its history and evolution. This study includes the detection of charcoal and metal production sites using LIDAR and geophysical methods, radiocarbon and OSL-dating of different types of features from these sites and anthracological analysis. In addition, the results also provide new information on the role of beech in the natural forest vegetation in the lowlands of NW-Europe