Exploring the Wood Technology of the Neanderthals of the Abric Romaní (Capellades, Barcelona)

The Abric Romaní (Capellades, Barcelona) is a Neandertal site discovered by Amador Romaní in 1909. From 1983, and under the direction of Professor Eudald Carbonell, the annual excavations were resumed and have not stopped since then. It is a sequence of more than 40 meters of travertines alternating with beds of silts in which the existence of at least 27 high-resolution archaeological levels has been determined. The dating of the complete sequence indicates the existence of sedimentary beds between 40 and 110 ky BP. Highlighting the excavation of about 300 m2 of surface which has allowed, the reconstruction of the domestic areas of the Neandertal groups. These occupations correspond to short-term settlements, of a few days, and long-term ones, which reached several months and would group a greater number of individuals. In addition to the combustion structures identified in all levels, 120 wood imprints have been recovered. The current state of knowledge of these elements indicates the existence of constructive elements, firewood accumulations, and tools in the Abric Romaní record. The imprints are preserved thanks to the highly carbonated water-dripping conditions of the environment. Carbonized wood remains and imprints quickly formed by the precipitation of carbonate on the wood have been found.
Wood technology is a little-developed aspect in the field of human evolution due to the poor conservation of these elements in the archaeological record. The study of this unique record and the possibility of connecting it to the rest of the elements found in the excavated levels grants excellent potential to produce new interpretations. The restoration, conservation, and digitalization work of the imprints of the Abric Romaní will allow to the reconstruction of the original morphology of the elements that are currently stored and without study. The high-resolution sedimentary environment of the Abric Romaní has offered good results in the fields of study of the lithic industry, the subsistence strategies related to the obtaining of animal resources, the control of fire, and the spatial organization, all this in relation to the social structure of the Neanderthal groups. The implementation in the field of study of wood technology is expected to offer relevant results and can become, like the rest of the studies of the site, a reference worldwide.