On the use of mosses in the building of a XVth century ship in Northern Spain

The study of two wooden pieces from the remains of the hull of an XVth century pinnace for iron ore and ironwork transport has yielded fragments of eight different bryophyte species: Eurhynchium striatum, Hylocomium splendens, Hypnum cupressiforme var. cupressiforme, Kindbergia praelonga, Neckera complanata, Pseudoscleropodium purum, Rhytidiadelphus triquetrus and Thuidium tamariscinum.
These remains were revealed at the archaeological site of Urbieta (Urdaibai Biosphere Reserve, Gernika, Vizcaya, Spain) and provide the first evidence of the use of mosses as caulking material for ships in Spain.