Abstract:

This work presents the findings from anthracological analyses performed on charcoal samples obtained from two stratigraphical units from a medieval pottery kiln. The final objective is to reveal the type of fuel used for the pottery kiln and where these natural resources were collected. At the same time, this information will allow us to gather a basic knowledge of biogeo-graphical environment of the city of Tarragona and its surroundings. Generally, very few anthracological investigations have been carried out in the context of the medieval ages in the Catalonian coastline. In addi-tion, the XV century is characterized by an important lack of documentation. Consequently, it is necessary to develop this type of analyses which will allow us to understand the ways in which the forests were exploited associated with handcraft activities during the medieval times in cities such as Tarragona.The results obtained from the anthracological analyses of the two studied levels differ in a substantial manner. While in one of them (SU 119) the olive three and heather are used mostly, in the other one (SU 112) pine is used almost exclusively. The presence of the rest of the taxa identifies at both levels is spotted except for the oak at SU 119, where, although in a lesser way than the other two species, it seems to have also been selected as burning wood for the kilns.