Roman agriculture in the conventus Bracaraugustanus (NW Iberia)

Abstract

A review of archaeobotanical data, together with new, still unpublished data, from Roman sites in conventus Bracaraugustanus suggests the Romanization of the northwest Iberia brought little changes to the agricultural strategies of local communities in indigenous-type settlements. The main crops remain the same as in the Iron Age: Triticum aestivum/durum, Panicum miliaceum, Hordeum vulgare subsp. vulgare, Triticum turgidum subsp. dicoccum and T. aestivum subsp. spelta, Avena and Vicia faba. The first secure reference for the cultivation of Secale cereale in the region comes from a Roman context, suggesting that it was introduced in this period, although it probably remained a minor crop.It is possible that during Roman times we have the first evidences for the cultivation of vine in the southernmost part of the conventus, near the river Douro but there are no signs of olive trees cultivation.Overall, not all the innovations usually attributed to the Romans are recorded in northwest Iberia. This fits the general scenario of a region which maintained its rural character, although with some differences in territorial organization. However, the fact that almost all the sites with fruits and seeds are indigenous-type settlements (hillforts) demands caution while interpreting the data, namely the proportion between continuity and innovation.