Navigation during the early Neolithic in the Mediterranean area: study of wooden artifacts associated with dugout canoes at La marmotta (Lago di Bracciano, Anguillara Sabazia, Lazio, Italy)

Abstract

In the Mediterranean area, direct archeological evidence proving the existence of navigation during the Neolithic, is not frequent. The only site in the Mediterranean where this direct evidence exists is La Marmotta. Therefore, the main objective of the present study is to approach the nautical technology of the first Neolithic communities through the study of artifacts related to five canoes found at the site. The present study has examined seven wooden artifacts linked to navigation. The archaeobotanical study of the artifacts consisted of their taxonomic and techno-morphometric analysis. This was able to determine the taxa used as raw material and the anatomic part utilized to manufacture the artifacts. The taxonomic analysis shows that the most frequently used wood was Alnus sp. and, to a lesser extent, deciduous Quercus sp. and Fraxinus sp. The study also established the operational sequences linked to the manufacturing process of the different artifacts. The technological, morphological and archaeobotanical study of La Marmotta artifacts connected with navigation is of great importance to understand the degree of specialization of the first Neolithic communities that spread in this area.