Thanatocoenoses of seeds and fruits from Zone 1 at Lattara (Lattes, France) during the 5th-4th centuries BC: the preliminary results

Resumen

For the last 25 years archaeological excavations have been regularly conducted in Zone 1 of the ancient city of Lattara, a district of houses built against the north-eastern part of the city walls, in order to obtain the complete stratigraphic record of the site from its foundation to its abandonment. As the ground-water level is nowadays quite high, a steel sheet pile retaining wall has been built all around to keep the excavation dry. A recent archaeobotanical study of the 5th and 4th centuries B.C. archaeological levels has shown the presence of the remains of seed and fruit preserved in different conditions. It is the first time that abundant waterlogged material has been found in habitat contexts connected with this city. In this work the taphonomy of these assemblages and their economic and ecological implications will be discussed.