The production and use of cordage at the early Neolithic site of La Draga (Banyoles, Spain)

Abstract

La Draga is an early Neolithic site on the shore of Lake Banyoles (Spain). The archaeological layer corresponding to the earliest occupation phase, dated 5324–4977 cal BC, has been preserved in waterlogged conditions. Several fragments of cords and plant fibres have survived in the site providing a unique example of cord production by early farmers in the western Mediterranean region. The types of cordage recovered at the site are presented here. Several cords made of twisted plant fibres and one made of liana show the diversity of cordage at La Draga. The production of the cords and their possible uses are also discussed. These finds add to the global evidence for advanced fibre technologies associated with the transition to agriculture during the early-to mid-Holocene.