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Wood charcoal and seeds as indicators for animal husbandry in a wetland site during the late mesolithic–early neolithic transition period (Swifterbant culture, ca. 4600–4000 b.c.) in NW Belgium

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Abstract

Analysis of wood charcoal and seeds from ‘Doel sector M’, a Swifterbant site (ca. 4600–4000 b.c.) from NW Belgium, provides information on the environment, plant food subsistence, animal husbandry practices and seasonality of this wetland camp site during the mesolithic–neolithic transition period. The results of the analyses of both charcoal and seeds show that the site was located on the top of a sand ridge covered by an upper riverbank forest with Quercus sp., Tilia sp., Ulmus sp. and Fraxinus excelsior, and surrounded by Alnus woodland. Seeds and fruits of Quercus sp., Cornus sanguinea, Corylus avellana, Malus sylvestris and Prunus spinosa probably represent food plants. High numbers of Viscum album charcoal fragments and Hedera helix seeds suggest the use of these plants as leaf fodder, and thus animal husbandry at the site. In terms of seasonality, the use of both Viscum album and Hedera helix is a strong indication that these wetland campsites were occupied during winter/early spring.

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Acknowledgments

The excavations at Doel were financed by Ghent University (Special Research Fund), the Flemish Ministry of ‘Mobiliteit en Openbare Werken, afdeling Maritieme Toegang’ and the ‘Archeologische Dienst Waasland’. The authors are grateful to Anja Sprangers (Flanders Heritage) for carefully sieving and sorting the samples. The contribution of Wim van Neer to this paper presents research results of the Interuniversity Attraction Poles Programme—Belgian Science Policy. Wim Wouters (Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences) is acknowledged for his help with the identification of the fish remains.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Flanders Heritage, Koning Albert II-laan 19, bus 5, 1210, Brussel, Belgium

    Koen Deforce, Jan Bastiaens, Anton Ervynck & An Lentacker

  2. Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences, Vautierstraat 29, 1000, Brussel, Belgium

    Wim Van Neer

  3. Laboratory of Animal Biodiversity and Systematics, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Ch. Debériotstraat 32, 3000, Leuven, Belgium

    Wim Van Neer

  4. Department of Archaeology, Ghent University, Sint-Pietersnieuwstraat 35, 9000, Ghent, Belgium

    Koen Deforce, Joris Sergant & Philippe Crombé

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  1. Koen Deforce
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Correspondence to Koen Deforce.

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Communicated by C. C. Bakels.

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Deforce, K., Bastiaens, J., Van Neer, W. et al. Wood charcoal and seeds as indicators for animal husbandry in a wetland site during the late mesolithic–early neolithic transition period (Swifterbant culture, ca. 4600–4000 b.c.) in NW Belgium. Veget Hist Archaeobot 22, 51–60 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00334-012-0354-2

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