Ephemeral Archaeology South of the Central Pyrenees (Huesca, NE Iberia): The Exceptional Preservation of Woody Objects in Moro de Alins Cave-site.

Desiccated objects made out of wood and plant fibres are exceptional archaeological finds in Europe, due to prevailing climatic conditions. The use of wood and plant fibres as raw materials in the past is not well-known due to the scarce availability of archaeological finds, especially in comparison with other non-perishable materials (lithic, pottery, metals). Dry environments suitable for the conservation of perishable materials are limited to some areas of the Iberian Peninsula, as for example the caves and shelters of the central Ebro basin. This region is emerging in recent years as a highly important area for the discovery of archaeological remains made out of short-lived materials. This work presents the results of taxonomic, typological and technical studies, including previously unpublished work, regarding the assemblage of wooden objects and basketry from the Moro de Alins (NE Iberia) cave-site. Direct radiocarbon dating has been vital for the contextualisation of the entire assemblage, which was illegally despoiled in the early 90s, and contains three well-differentiated phases of occupation: Neolithic, Bronze Age and Late Antiquity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]