Traditional wheat cultivation in South-Eastern Anatolia and its comparison to the archaeological context

Abstract

This study analyzes the wheat farming activities currently carried out by some rural communities in south-eastern Anatolia. The region is in the northern part of the so-called Fertile Crescent, which played a crucial role 10,500 years ago in domestication of wheat, Triticum monococcum L. and Triticum dicoccon (Schrank) Schubl. in particular. Ethnobotanical investigations were conducted between November 2013 and July 2014 in the rural areas of the provinces of Diyarbakir, Mardin, Şirnak and Elazig. All the examined locations were documented at all stages of the wheat cultivation, except for the preparation of soil. Certain similar agricultural techniques between the contemporary villagers and the prehistoric communities were recorded. In particular, in some villages, silos made exclusively with earth, stones and tree branches, the same types of materials also used during the prehistoric period, were documented. It was also demonstrated that there has existed a continuous exchange of seeds even at long distances through specialized harvesters. This exchange has allowed transmission of cultivation techniques, which are thought to have also existed in the prehistoric period. In addition, manual harvesting was also documented. Based on ethnobotanical observations, it is proposed that manual harvesting was also used during the prehistoric period. During the research, it was observed that women were the protagonists at all stages of production of cereals, from sowing to harvest. Hence, it is suggested that women may have played a leading role in agricultural activities during the prehistoric period, starting from the Neolithic.