Way of Life and Technical Knowledge of Moroccan Charcoal Burners: an Ethnoarchaeological Approach (Gharb and Middle Atlas Morocco)

International audienceIn the Occident, the ways of life of forest artisans have left very few traces, either in the earth or in archives. The mobility of these persons, the fact that their activity was dependent upon the cycle of regeneration of the plant cover and their marginalization provide an explanation. The use of ethnoarchaeological sources is thus vital to guide the textual and archaeological interpretation (ACOVITSIOTI-HAMEAU 1995; FABRE 1996; LUGLI, PRACCHIA 1995; MUSSET 1996). This ethnoarchaeological approach helps the archaeologist to discover, identify and interpret the structures that he finds. From this standpoint, the study of post-depositional processes is necessary to better conduct archaeological excavation and better understand the series of operations that occurred and the associated technical actions. The Moroccan countryside today is a veritable repository of traditional ways of life and technical knowledge in Mediterranean lands, knowledge that has completely disappeared from Western Europe. This is particularly the case for the production of charcoal in the eucalyptus forests of the plain of Mârmora and in the evergreen oak forests of the Middle Atlas, studied in 2008 and 2009 (Fig. 1). In the latter case, the biogeographic and topographic situation is identical to that of the medieval sites for charcoal production being excavated in lower Provence