Life between lake and land. Local vegetation reconstruct¡on and the potential for plant exploitation at the Middle Pleistocene lake-shore site Marathousa-1, Greece

Marathousa-1, Megalopolis basin, central Peloponnesus, dates to MIS 12 and is the oldest archaeological site in Greece. Palaeontological and archaeological finds include a near-complete skeleton of the elephant species Palaeoloxodon antiquus, many other animal bones and high amounts of stratigraphically associated small lithics. Cut marks on several bones indicate hominin exploitation of faunal resources. This research tried to assess the potential for plant exploitation at the site. In order to do that, the local vegetation of the site was reconstructed by means of a macro-botanical analysis. Two types of data were acquired: semi-quantitative data of four samples, and concentration data of one sample of those four. The results show that the majority of the identified plant taxa has an aquatic or waterside habitat, suggesting a lake-shore setting for the site. Big changes in the vegetation over time could not be established. Because not much is known about plant exploitation in the...Show moreMarathousa-1, Megalopolis basin, central Peloponnesus, dates to MIS 12 and is the oldest archaeological site in Greece. Palaeontological and archaeological finds include a near-complete skeleton of the elephant species Palaeoloxodon antiquus, many other animal bones and high amounts of stratigraphically associated small lithics. Cut marks on several bones indicate hominin exploitation of faunal resources. This research tried to assess the potential for plant exploitation at the site. In order to do that, the local vegetation of the site was reconstructed by means of a macro-botanical analysis. Two types of data were acquired: semi-quantitative data of four samples, and concentration data of one sample of those four. The results show that the majority of the identified plant taxa has an aquatic or waterside habitat, suggesting a lake-shore setting for the site. Big changes in the vegetation over time could not be established. Because not much is known about plant exploitation in the Palaeolithic, a literature study was deployed. By combining information from non-botanical sources and preserved plant remains at other sites, Palaeolithic plant use can be reconstructed. Plants must have played an important role in the lives of Palaeolithic hominins. Plants provided food, supplied raw material for tools, shelter and bedding and were essential for starting and maintaining a fire. Approximately two-third of the 62 plant taxa identified at Marathousa-1 is suitable for one or more of these purposes. The potential for plant exploitation at Marathousa-1 was therefore high, but due to the nature of the site and the sampling method actual use of plants by hominins at the site cannot be proven.Show less

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Life between lake and land. Local vegetation reconstruct¡on and the potential for plant exploitation at the Middle Pleistocene lake-shore site Marathousa-1, Greece