In this study we present evidence of braided plant fibres and basketry imprints on clay recovered from Coves de Santa Maira, a Palaeolithic-Mesolithic cave site located in the Mediterranean region of Spain. The anatomical features of these organic fibre remains were identified in the archaeological material and compared with modern Stipa tenacissima (esparto grass). Based on direct dating, the fragments of esparto cord from our site are the oldest worked plant fibres in Europe. Sixty fragments of fired clay are described. The clay impressions have allowed us to discuss the making of baskets and containers. According to their attributes and their functional interpretation, we have grouped them into five types within two broad categories, hearth plates and baskets or containers. The clay pieces identified as fragments of containers with basketry impressions are less common than those of hearth plate remains and they are concentrated in the Epipalaeolithic occupation material (13.2–10.2 ka cal bp). The clay impressions from Santa Maira indicate that some fibres were treated or flattened, a preparation process that is known from historical and ethnological sources.

中文翻译：

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欧洲西南部更新世-全新世边界的绳索，编织物和集装箱。来自Coves de Santa Maira（西班牙巴伦西亚地区）的证据

在这项研究中，我们提供了从科夫斯德圣马伊拉（Coves de Santa Maira）（位于西班牙地中海地区的旧石器时代-中石器时代的洞穴遗址）中回收的粘土上编织的植物纤维和编织物印记的证据。在考古材料中确定了这些有机纤维残留物的解剖特征，并将其与现代针茅（Stipa tenacissima）进行了比较。（草木）。基于直接约会，我们网站上的针叶索碎片是欧洲最古老的植物纤维。描述了烧制粘土的六十个片段。陶土的印象使我们能够讨论篮子和容器的制造。根据它们的属性和功能说明，我们将它们分为两大类，分为五个类型，炉床板和篮子或容器。被识别为带有篮筐印象的容器碎片的粘土块比炉床板残骸少见，它们集中在表石时代的占领材料中（13.2–10.2 ka cal bp）。来自圣马伊拉（Santa Maira）的粘土印象表明，某些纤维已经过处理或展平，这是历史和人种学上已知的制备方法。