Abstract
Frijão is a peculiar Iron Age place in Northwest Portugal. Its peculiarity derives mostly from what appears to be the remains of a ritual of commensality found in a pit or ditch.Structures in Frijão were exclusively made of perishable materials. These were destroyed by an apparently man-made and ritual fire that appears to be articulated with a riveted cauldron. In the main structure of the site – a large pit or ditch – several ceramic vessels of different typologies, including several inner-wing pots seem to have been disposed and sealed quickly after being used. In this same structure, fruits of different species were found in association with frequent charcoal and ashes. The analysis that were carried out led to the identification of Quercus acorns and three crops: naked wheat (Triticum aestivum / durum), emmer (Triticum turgidum subsp. dicoccum) and broomcorn millet (Panicum miliaceum).Unfortunately no sampling strategy was implemented during the field work which makes it impossible to evaluate whether the carpological remains that were studied are representative of what was actually there. It is clear that this context is of the utmost relevance for the understanding of social practices in the regional Iron Age, but unsuitable field work makes its interpretation more difficult.
Highlights
A peculiar archaeological context in an Iron Age pit at Frijão has been interpreted as the result of ritual commensality (SILVA 2013, 2014)
Since no sampling strategy was implemented during the field work, it was assumed from the beginning that interpretations regarding the archaeobotanical assemblages would be severely limited and it would not be possible to fully understand the role of the carpological remains in the commensality rituals that seem to have taken place at Frijão
Frijão is not interpreted as a settlement but rather as a place sporadically used by communities from one or several settlements in the region for rituals of commensality (SILVA 2014)
Summary
A peculiar archaeological context in an Iron Age pit at Frijão has been interpreted as the result of ritual commensality (SILVA 2013, 2014). Studies were focused mostly on specific artefacts that were recovered in this context, namely the riveted cauldron (SILVA 2013). With this carpological study we intended to identify the fruits that were recovered in this context. Since no sampling strategy was implemented during the field work, it was assumed from the beginning that interpretations regarding the archaeobotanical assemblages would be severely limited and it would not be possible to fully understand the role of the carpological remains in the commensality rituals that seem to have taken place at Frijão. Considering the relevance of the archaeological context, it is important to make public the available data
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