Aplicación de la metodología arqueométrica al estudio de corales arqueológicosejemplos de época romana en el Fretum gaditanum

Abstract

The coral exoskeleton has been used throughout History by past societies since prehistoric times documented in archeological sites such as Wiesbaden (Germany) 25,000 years ago. That is why it is of great interest to know aspects related to its taphonomy, provenance, dating, etc. In recent years we have started a line of research for the characterization of corals in an archaeological context, in the area of the Strait of Gibraltar. This paper reflects on the use of archaeometric techniques for its characterization, through the application of the same to a specimen of Dendrophyllia ramea (Linnaeus, 1758) from Roman times found in the archaeological excavations of Calle Soledad 30, of the ancient city of Gades, with the aim of assessing its potential and, at the same time, making visible its appearance in halieutic environments of the old Fretum Gaditanum such as the Olivillo excavations or the cetariae of La Madre Vieja from Carteia