Wooden remains from Kendale Hecala: insights into wood identification and archaeological context

Abstract

Analyzing the species identification and procurement of materials from the wooden remains excavated from the archaeological site of Kendale Hecala, located along the Ambar Çay in the Upper Tigris Region, sheds light on the wood utilization practices and environmental interactions of the inhabitants of the settlement. The findings reveal the tree species prevalent in the first half of the 5th millennium BC flora, corresponding to contemporary analogues. Of the 24 wood samples collected during the 2020–21 excavations, 17 were successfully identified, including eight willow/poplar (Salix/Populus spp.) woods, four oak (Quercus spp.) woods, three ash (Fraxinus spp.) woods, and two elm (Ulmus spp.) woods. Most of the samples were mineralized wood, with only six being carbonized. Ten samples were linked to structural components such as walls, floors, and roofs; five were associated with various contexts; and two were used as fuel sources. The analysis indicates that the inhabitants markedly preferred willow/poplar, ash, and elm species found in wetland areas along the Ambar Çay, just 120 m from the settlement. This selection is consistent with the ’principle of least effort’, emphasizing the use of locally accessible and readily available resources. The choice of wood as a construction material appears to have been a deliberate decision made in specific contexts. These findings may provide valuable insights into environmental interactions, the use of wood for structural purposes, and the economic strategies that influenced the inhabitants’ material choices.