Archaeobotanical analysis of the judgement samples from research of Stare gmajne, an Eneolithic pile-dwelling site: mosses, vessel contents and the analysis of the wooden artefacts

Abstract

The archaeobotanical research of the Stare Gmajne pile-dwelling site included analyses of samples taken from moss remains and vessel contents, as well as wood anatomical analyses of several wooden artefacts and charcoal pieces.The moss of two forest species and other macroremains provide evidences of human diet and gathering as well as surrounding vegetation in the Eneolithic (3521−3366 cal BC). The results show the inhabitants collected wild plants and cultivated crops, with six cultivars identified. For the wooden artefacts, they show the bow was made of yew and the rings of hazel. They also reveal significant differences between the two excavated trenches and between different stratigraphic units. Further research of the systematically sampled sediments will address questions concerning the possibility of detecting changes in water levels and the location of the Eneolithic settlement. What is already clear is that the organic remains in the present-day Ljubljansko barje soil are highly endangered.

Keywords

• slovenia
• ljubljansko barje
• eneolithic
• archaeobotany
• pile dwellings
• mosses
• vessel contents
• wooden artefacts