Magali Toriti

Ce recueil présente le programme des 12e Rencontres nationales d’Archéobotanique (Perpignan, 7-10 juin 2017). Il s’articule autour de 4 thématiques. La première, à visée méthodologique, présente les dernières avancées de la recherche en matière de protocoles d’études et les nouvelles problématiques abordables grâce à leur développement. La deuxième porte sur l’exploitation des ressources végétales par les sociétés agro-pastorales durant la Préhistoire récente (Mésolithique-Néolithique). La troisième vise à étudier les pratiques alimentaires et, plus généralement, l’économie végétale, de la fin de la Protohistoire au bas Moyen Âge. Enfin, la quatrième porte spécifiquement sur des études réalisées en contextes urbains, et vise à mettre en évidence les pratiques et ressources propres à ces secteurs.Ces nombreuses contributions témoignent du dynamisme actuel connu par l’archéobotanique et de son rôle de premier plan pour documenter l’alimentation, les pratiques agropastorales et l’économie végétale des sociétés anciennes.

During Historical times, fire was one of the main energy used for industry, craft and domestic activities. For the past 30 years, anthracological analyses were realized in Mediterranean France on nearly 80 ancient, medieval and modern sites. If several activities are now well documented (charcoal and lime burning, pottery, cremation), no global approach has been attempted so
far. An inventory was realized, based on a broad range of activities (ceramic, charcoal, lime, vegetal exudates, food, metal, glass, textiles, leathers, soap, salt, plaster) gathered in a same data basis. In order to understand phenomenon of rupture and continuity of the practices, the corpus comprises a chronology going from the Romanization to the Industrial Revolution. Craft and industry constitute the major part of the corpus. This work raises new questions. Currently, archaeologists aim to link the use of fuel with
the type of products made (ceramic, lime, glass, etc.). Also, they affirm that some taxa have a calorific value more important than others, and that craftsmen used to chose the fuel regarding its specific properties. Nonetheless, our research proves that these ideas are not representative of past practices. For this reason, we propose a new approach which takes into account the
constraint imposed by thermic and technical necessities (i.e. concentration of fire, or, on the contrary, circulation of fire in the kilns). Indeed, the choice of fuel does not always rely on the choice of a taxa for itself but on other criteria such as morphology, caliber, humidity level, etc. Furthermore, we propose a different interpretation of anthracological data. Generally, anthracologists
consider that their data only reflect the choice of the craftsmen and the ecological constraints. But it appears that the role of land/forest owners, who managed the fuel resources, has never really been discussed or taken into account. This communication will propose a first discussion on the subject. Studies of multi-craft sites will be presented, as well as examples of “gestion sur pied”
(distribution of elements coming from a same tree in order to fuel different activities). Recent methodological developments will be introduced, such as the restitution of calibers, or the observation of tools marks, bringing information on the preparation of the fuel. By crossing anthracological data with medieval and modern texts, a socio-professional approach of the preparation of the fuel will also be possible. At last, the energetic transition towards the use of fossil charcoal will also be attempted.

Le site de "Champ Roche", d'une superficie avoisinant 4,5 hectares, est situé à 5 km du centre historique de Clermont-Ferrand (63). Il se trouve sur la bordure ouest du bassin d'effondrement tertiaire de la Limagne, à une altitude variant entre 330 et 335m NGF. Cette opération a été réalisée en préalable aux travaux d’aménagement de la ZAC des Montels III conduits par la SEAU. L'opération de fouilles a permis la découverte de vestiges se rapportant à un petit sanctuaire rural gallo-romain installé en bordure de voie, succédant à un édifice érigé sur poteaux porteurs dès La Tène D2b. Le site de "Champ Roche" a également livré un petit enclos aménagé au cours du iie s. avant notre ère puis abandonné à la transition entre le ie et le iie s. ap. J.-C. Au nord de cet espace a été mis en évidence une vaste zone d’habitat occupée au cours des deux premiers siècles avant notre ère, dans laquelle fut exhumé un buste gaulois, jusque là inédit chez les arvernes. Au Haut-Empire, un ensemble d'habitations romaines prendra place sur la partie occidentale du site, l'hypothèse est celle d'un ensemble de bâtiments se développant de part et d'autre d'un chemin de terre, à la manière d'un village routier. Tandis qu'à l'est, hors emprise, est localisé à peu de distance (100 m) l'ensemble de maçonneries associées à une hypothétique villa équipée d'un balnéaire découverte en 2007 par une équipe de l'Inrap (Pasty 2007).

This atlas presents a concrete tool to identify xylophagous activity by the remains they left in wooded areas in Western Europe. Xylophagous insects are among the largest predators of woody tissues. They leave discriminating traces, different for each species according to their bioecology, and so it is necessary to know how to recognize and characterize them. The book is a practical tool to help identify and interpret them through a standardized presentation of the most ubiquitous families and a key to their determination. It presents descriptions of the galleries and of morphometry of the faecal pellets based on macroscopic features for xylophagous identification, and includes information about the origin and distribution of the xylophagous biological cycles, bioclimatic conditions and bioecology, and the type of woods that are attacked. The book will be a useful guide for forest managers, heritage conservationists, environmental engineers, bioarchaeologists, entomologists, loggers...

https://www.sciencedirect.com/journal/journal-of-archaeological-science-reports/special-issue/10M64K0QG10
Earth has been a very common building material through History and since prehistoric times. Therefore, earth construction remains are frequently found in archaeological contexts, although they are rarely considered as valuable sources of information. This sort of materiality encloses crucial information, not only related to the mud material itself. Samples of architectural mud recovered from three Copper Age sites located in the southeast of the Iberian Peninsula have preserved imprints with features which provide information related to raw materials used as structural timber and to their state before its use. During the macroscopical analysis of prehistoric earth construction elements indirect evidence of wood biodegradation has been observed. In the mud surface traces related with the action of xylophagous insects and even with the possible use of rotten wood have been identified. Their presence suggests that decayed wood was used as building material, wood degradation that occurred before being put on place. This evidence raises several questions in relation to timber selection and procurement. This study, as a transversal methodological contribution, aims to raise awareness on the informative potential of these often-neglected archaeological materials and the features present on them, as valuable sources of information on past societies. The integration of organic and inorganic evidence is needed to fully understand wood management and building techniques developed by prehistoric communities.

Résumé. – Parmi les Insectes xylophages de la famille des Ptinidae, la petite vrillette Anobium punctatum (De Geer, 1774), espèce cosmopolite, est la plus fréquemment rencontrée dans les espaces et lieux
patrimoniaux. Par ailleurs, d’autres espèces comme la vrillette brune Oligomerus ptilinoides (Wollaston, 1854) et la vrillette des bibliothèques Nicobium castaneum (Olivier, 1790), se rencontrent souvent dans ces mêmes lieux. Toutes occasionnent de nombreux dégâts sur divers objets patrimoniaux et les traces qu’elles génèrent (trous d‘émergence, taille et
forme des déjections, présence ou non de coque de nymphose, etc.) ne sont pas identiques d’une espèce à l’autre.
Pour les trois espèces considérées, cette étude présente une approche comparative, morphologique et statistique, de ces traces d’activité permettant ainsi leur différenciation et leur identification en l’absence de larves ou d’imagos.

Abstract. – Analysis of larval frass for identification of wood boring insects of the family Ptinidae (Coleoptera).
Among xylophagous insects of the family Ptinidae, the common furniture beetle Anobium punctatum (De Geer, 1774), with a worldwide distribution, is the most commonly found species in heritage sites and places. Besides, other species like the furniture beetle Oligomerus ptilinoides (Wollaston, 1854) and the library beetle Nicobium castaneum (Olivier, 1790), are often found in the same places. They all cause extensive damage to various objects, and the traces they leave (flight holes, size and shape of their excrement, presence or absence of pupae, etc.) differ
among species. This study presents a comparative, morphological and statistical approach for studying the clues left by these three species so as to differentiate and identify them in the absence of larvae or imagoes.

A rescue excavation undertaken in 2011-2012 in Jaunay-Clan (Vienne) revealed a Late Antique funerary area consisting of a pyre, a mausoleum and a large masonry building. The pyre yielded significant accompanying goods, and is associated with a large deposit of broken vases. The surrounding enclosure and the stone pedestal undoubtedly correspond to the final construction of the burial. In the mausoleum, the embalming of bodies and the use of precious textiles (some of which are dyed Tyrian purple) provide evidence of elite funerary practices in the Pictons civitas in the 3rd-4th c. AD.