Seeds from vishaps' environment: Archaeobotanical findings from the high mountainous site of Karmir Sar (Tirinkatar, Mt. Aragats, Armenia)

Abstract

Only a small number of seeds belonging to cultivated plants were recovered from the site of Karmir Sar, situated on the southern flanks of Mt. Aragats. Although a few in number, these archaeobotanical materials are unique because of the geographical, chronological and cultural attribution of the finds. First, previously no archaeobotanical remains have been recovered from such a high altitude as 2850 m a.s.l. in the region. Second, extremely few remains of cultivated plant have been recovered from the Middle Bronze Age sites in present day Armenia (except for sites dating to the end of the MBA and the MBA/LBA transitions). And, finally, this is the first time that plant remains have been recovered from contexts relating to the “dragon-stone” monuments (stone stelae named "vishap"). The Middle Bronze Age remains of cultivated plants are identified as free-threshing wheat, barley, and emmer; these cereals were probably the main starch component of food for the communities that interacted with the vishap monuments of Karmir Sar. Those charred grains of cereals found in the vicinity of vishaps (and related structures) and attributed to the Middle Bronze Age may be related to ritual activities connected around the vishaps and may represent the remnants of offerings and/or festive food used during rituals. There are also findings of seeds from later periods (Late Bronze Age, Iron Age, Medieval) that are probably related to the activities of transhumant pastoralists.