First insights into the wood management for the production of lime given by the anthracological study of a 19th century lime kiln from Martinique, Lesser Antilles

The colonial economy of Martinique, French West Indies, has long been based on sugar cane exploitation, which started in the 17th century and decreased during 19th century. Sugar led to woodland exploitation for production fuel. In particular, this fuelwood was needed lime production, used purification juice. As kilns are numerous their functioning implied an intense wood exploitation. To date, no archaeobotanical studies were conducted assess how kiln workers managed study, we analyzed 207 charcoals fragments from a at Sucrerie plantation, Les Anses-d’Arlet, Martinique. This identification 50 taxa, showing that collection mainly diffuse unfocused. But occurrence taxa known as being or charcoal suggests looking with good fuel properties. Our results also show made locally, revealed by presence xero- mesophilic vegetation anthracological record, is accordance botanical ethnological data. pioneer heliophilic suggest already impacted i.e., local forest associations largely disturbed time secondary regrowth conspicuous. Nevertheless, high proportion small-gauge (36%) edible record saplings pruning waste may have preferred preserve useful mature trees. study allows first Antillean Period makes it possible better understand one most widespread handicrafts Caribbean.