Nasiona, owoce oraz odciski roślin użytkowych

Abstract

The aim of the archaeobotanical analysis was to summarise results obtained to date and to assess what role arable crops played in the life of the stronghold’s inhabitants. The study also looked at previous data (charred cereal caryopsis deposits) and material collected during 2016–21 (charred cereal caryopses, impressions left in daub and pottery) from a ditch and dwellings. The analysed materials, regardless of their sampling context, were dominated by the remains of cereals. Barley (Hordeum vulgare) and rye (Secale cereale) predominate in all samples. Millet (Panicum miliaceum) is a characteristic component of the samples collected in the 1960s. Wheat (Triticum spp.) is present in small amounts. All of the identified species are typical cereals of the early medieval period. The fact that there are considerable differences between archive samples recovered from the same context as those collected in 2016 indicates that we are dealing with the remains of crops from various fields or various seasons. Some of the analysed caryopses show signs of germination, which suggests that they were inadequately stored, probably in a damp place. Charred caryopses from all samples were accompanied by low proportions of diaspores of segetal and ruderal weeds. The most characteristic species present in all samples were darnel (Lolium temulentum) and rye brome (Bromus secalinus). The presence of speirochoric plants in particular suggests that weed diaspores and other impurities had been removed from this material before it became charred. The presence of lentils (Lens culinaris) and peas (Pisum sativum) attests the use of legumes, most probably as a food source. Material sampled from the ditch and dwellings contained single finds of cereals and weeds. Out of over 100 analysed pieces of daub, only eight had identifiable plant impressions, mostly of rye spikelets (cfr Secale cereale). Other plant remains identified from impressions in daub included spelt spikelets (Triticum spelta), a millet caryopsis with husk (Panicum miliaceum) and one probable oat caryopsis (cfr Avena sp.). An impression of a rye caryopsis (Secale cereale) was noted in one of the analysed pots from ditch 1. One vessel recovered from a dwelling (feature 13) was made of clay with a significant content of millet grass caryopses (mostly with husks) from species such as common millet (Panicum miliaceum), foxtail millet (Setaria italica), crabgrass (Digitaria sp.) and green bristle grass (S. viridis). The results are discussed in the context of data from other early medieval sites and features in north-east Poland. The widespread dominance of barley, rye and wheat is evident, as is a lower percentage of millet, and the presence of foxtail millet. The diversity noted among the crop plants at these sites is possibly a consequence of using different sampling and preparation methods.