Abstract:

The archaeological analysis of prehistoric building with local and natural constructive materials, such as wood and mud, can be improved thanks to the approaches made by Ethnoarchaeology and Experimental Archaeology. Both of these perspectives can be useful for the development of methodological aspects of the analysis of earth construction archaeological remains. Accordingly, we have studied different ethnoarchaeological construction remains from half-collapsed traditional and contemporary buildings. In different parts of these constructions, materials such as wood, earth and gypsum mortars, and techniques as reed wattle-and-daub were used. This approach has allowed us to study different issues that can be applied to prehistoric building activities, mainly focused on the identification of wattle-and-daub structures and earth layers and rendering. Besides, some experimental tests were made in order to identify different characteristics of the prehistoric building remains.