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The early Neolithic site of La Draga (Banyoles, Spain) has provided a singular sample of plant-crafts, wooden tools, and other plant remains preserved in waterlogged conditions. This exceptional context of plant remains preservation provides an incomparable frame to study past botanical knowledge and the emergence and devel- opment of plant transformation technologies. The goal of this paper is to provide an integrated synthesis of the plant resources used by the inhabitants of La Draga, paying special attention to the main taxa used, the environ- ments exploited and the plant acquisition strategies. Through the results of the analysis of plant-crafts, timber and wooden tools, charcoal remains, exudates, fungi, and microremains as pollen, we discuss types of forest and plants exploited to obtain raw materials and the human impact on vegetation. The plant raw materials identified at La Draga indicate the exploitation of local resources available in deciduous and riparian forests where an anthropic disturbance is documented contemporary with the occupation.

The purpose of this work is to contribute to the knowledge of the role of fungi in prehistoric human societies and, in particular, to determine their use as tinder in fire-lighting technologies. The case of La Draga (Banyoles, NE Spain), an Early Neolithic site with extraordinary conservation of organic materials, is presented. At this site, a well preserved and abundant assemblage of fruiting bodies of fungi has been recovered in a waterlogged environment. The comparison of the taxa identified with evidence of fungal spores is analysed in order to provide a better understanding of the process of fungi incorporation into the archaeological site. Finds at La Draga demonstrate that the gathering of bracket fungi was a frequent practice during the Early Neolithic occupation. A total of 86 fruiting bodies have been studied and six different taxa have been identified: Ganoderma adspersum, Daldinia concentrica, Daedalea quercina, Lenzites warnieri, Coriolopsis gallica, and Skeletocutis nivea. The taxa identified in the fruiting bodies have not been identified among the fungal spores from the soil sediments. Comparison of the presence of fungal spores and fruiting bodies provides additional arguments to support the hypothesis that bracket fungi were gathered, dried and stored to be used by the inhabitants of La Draga.

This paper presents the study of the fungi remains preserved in the waterlogged deposits of the Neolithic site of La Draga. These resources had the potential of being used as food and medicine, but also as tinder. Fire was without a doubt one of the most important resources for past people. It was used for lighting, heating, processing food and other materials, cooking and protection, and also possessed social and ritual significance. Hearths are one of the most common features at archaeological sites, but very often little attention is paid to the question of how these fires were lit, and they are seldom reflected in the archaeological record. In order to produce fire by percussion, an intermediate material is required between the sparks and the fuel. Fruiting bodies of fungi are a potential form of tinder, but are less inclined to be well-preserved than other materials. This paper presents the fungal fruiting bodies found at the Neolithic site of La Draga and discusses the meaning of their presence within the archaeological context of the site and European Prehistory.