Aanwijzingen voor plantaardige conservatie van huiden in archeologische contexten

Samenvatting

Indications for the preservation of hides with the use of vegetable material in archaeological contexts. In prehistoric times, the preservation of hides must have been an activity of vital importance. This process may involve the use of plant material. The archaeobotanical literature, however, is virtually silent about this activity, despite its long tradition. The absence of archaeobotanical evidence is most probably due to a lack of awareness of preservation of hides as a part of daily life. Recognizing such activities in an archaeological context requires knowledge both of environmental conditions and of hide preservation processes. Of special interest are the recovery of remains of plants suitable for the preservation of hides, settlement structures such as pits, including water pits, and artefacts such as stones. The recognition of their possible use in relation to preservation or tanning of hides will be improved if the analysis of this indicators is not limited to individual studies, but includes a synthetic approach as well.