Portal de Periódicos da CAPES

First representative xylological data on the exploitation of wood by early medieval woodcrafters in the Polesia region, southwestern Belarus

2020; Elsevier BV; Volume: 30; Linguagem: Inglês

10.1016/j.jasrep.2020.102252

2352-4103

Katarzyna Cywa, Agnieszka Wacnik,

Medieval European History and Architecture

The xylological determinations and analysis of technical properties of wood used in Early Medieval stronghold at Dawidgródek for making everyday life equipment provided insight into the selection and likely sources of wood supply for craftsmen in the Polesia region. According to our knowledge, up-till-now this aspect of human activity involving exploitation of forests for woodcraft in this area of the Kievan Rus on the border of Western and Eastern Europe, was hardly discussed. Our results, however, confirmed the use of local wood resources. The functional distribution of usable wood from Dawidgródek showed predominance of stave vessels and tools among the finds. Because mainly tangential split materials of a low technical value were used on site it is likely that knowledge of carpentry techniques was not very advanced. It was demonstrated that selection of timber was clearly associated with the way in which objects were used and was justified by technological and working properties of each species of wood. The wood of oak, elm, ash, and pine, were used mainly to manufacture large items, requiring high mechanical resistance. Turned, hollowed out and carved vessels were made of ash wood, torches and toys for children were made of pine wood while spindles were made out of euonymus. According to the previous palynological studies all of these taxa were available in the region. Our results demonstrated also the presence of imports from the Mediterranean world, controlled by the Byzantine Empire. The discoveries of combs made of the exotic wood of boxwood suggested the use of routes along the Dnieper river, through Kiev, for small scale long-distance trade in luxury goods.