Archaeobotanical Study at the Early Dynastic Cemetery in Helwan (3100–2600 BC), Egypt: Plant Diversity at Early Dynastic Memphis

Abstract

Recently, several studies have been published dealing with the analysis of plant remains from archaeological sites in the Memphite region. These investigations covered different archaeological periods. However, until now, no research has be completed on plant remains from the Early Dynastic period in this area. This paper will focus on analysis of macro-botanical remains from sealed pots discovered inside ten tombs at the Early Dynastic Cemetery in Helwan, 30 km south of Cairo (3100–2600 BC). The main goal is to study the economy and ecology relating to the site rather than the offering practices of ancient Egypt. In addition, this research will reconstruct agricultural practices, to shed light on plant diversity and to increase our understanding about non-elite lifeways that prevailed during Early Dynastic times in Memphis. Analysis of the plant remains retrieved from Helwan Cemetery has yielded a total of 25,743 fragments of charred plant macroremains. These remains were classified into two major groups: cultivated crops, including cereals, flax and legumes; and wild/weedy plants comprising wild edible fruits, field weeds, plants of moist habitats, plants of dry habitats and other indeterminate taxa. Cereal remains from the studied tombs consisted of chaff and grains. The study revealed that the arable economy of Memphis during this period was based on the cultivation of cereals primarily Hordeum vulgare L. subsp. vulgare (hulled barley) which was associated with Triticum turgidum L. ssp. dicoccum (Schrank) Thell. (emmer wheat).