Abstract
New discoveries of legumes in the lower Galilee at the prehistoric site of Ahihud in Israel shed light on early farming systems in the southern Levant. Radiocarbon dating of twelve legumes from pits and floors indicate that the farming of legumes was practiced in southern Levant as early as 10.240–10.200 (1σ) ago. The legumes were collected from pits and other domestic contexts dated to the Early Pre-Pottery Neolithic B. The legumes identified include Vicia faba L. (faba bean), V. ervilia (bitter vetch), V. narbonensis (narbon vetch), Lens sp. (lentil), Pisum sp. (pea), Lathyrus inconspicuus (inconspicuous pea) and L. hirosolymitanus (jerusalem vetchling). Comparison with coeval sites in the region show how the presence of peas, narbon vetches, inconspicuous peas, jerusalem vetchlings and bitter vetches together with faba bean and lentils is unique to the Pre-Pottery Neolithic, and might indicate specific patterns in farming or storing at the onset of agriculture.
Highlights
Agriculture is a key factor that reinforced sedentism
Samples of sediment collected in the pits (L 450, 398) and on the floors were analyzed using Fourier transform infrared spectrometry (FTIR) to look for the presence of ash and of any other sign of fire activity in the clay, following the model proposed by Berna [32]
The spectra obtained from the different contexts show remarkable similarities
Summary
Agriculture is a key factor that reinforced sedentism. The ability to produce and store foodsurplus drastically reduced the risk of famine and the sensitivity to environmental conditions, allowing the human population to grow and settle down. Recent archaeobotanical discoveries of early-domesticated cereals in the Fertile Crescent show that this region is rich with examples of early forms of agriculture [1]. Several notable examples of cultivation and domestication of legumes such as faba bean and chickpea have been discovered in the Levant [2,3,4,5]. We present new finds of legumes at the prehistoric site of Ahihud. The context of the discovery and the volume of recovered material provide insight into the early farming of staple crops and the use of other legumes for their potential value as food for humans and animals. Large amounts of Vicia faba L., Lens sp., Pisum sp., were found in the site of Ahihud, in the Lower Galilee in Israel.
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