Paleobotánica del epipaleolítico y mesolítico vascos

Abstract

This work summarizes the main palaeobotanical data available for the Basque Epipalaeolithic - Mesolithic. The Holocene climatic improvement resulted in the colonization of the territory by the arboreal stratum and the progressive retreat of taxa such as Pinus, Betula and steppic plants like Ephedra and Artemisia. In the Atlantic part of the Basque Country mixed oak-forests prevail with Corylus and Quercus as main components but also with an interesting group of other arboreal taxa (Fagus, Quercus ilex tp., Castanea, Fraxinus, Juglans, Tilia…). The main fuel used on archaeological sites is oak. To the south of the watershed, including the western Pyrenean region, the presence of Pinus is significant. The main fuel used by humans is oak together with Rosaceae or Pinus. Plant foods identified are acorns, apple and Sorbus pomes and, particularly, hazelnuts.