Abstract
Waterlogged wood and charcoal preserved in 21 archaeological wells (Neolithic – Roman) from the Languedoc region (southern France) are studied, in an attempt to understand their provenance and the information they can provide in terms of the environment and function at the site. The amount and variety of debris (lost accidentally, fallen naturally, but mostly voluntarily disposed of) suggest that wells were used as dumps and were ultimately unusable as fresh water sources. Simple and / or sophisticated objects from day-today life, imported or made locally, provide information on the development of carpentry procedures / skills. A large variety of wood species was used, some eventually chosen based on their characteristics and properties. The identification of charcoal provides a diversified taxonomic spectrum and a similar pattern of vegetation composition and plant use to the one suggested by domestic dispersed charcoal. The unexpected abundance of reeds in rural sites suggests specific uses in the farming system. The remarkable taxonomic diversity found in some wells (including species rarely identified in habitat layers) may reflect a direct relationship between taxonomic diversity and mechanical constraints. The absence of trampling and the presence of water may favour the survival of smaller fragments / rarer species.