Archaeobotanical Remains from the Medieval Town of Braničevo (Serbia)

Abstract

Archaeobotanical investigations of medieval sites in the Balkans are still not being undertaken often enough, and this study represents a small insight into the economic activity related to food consumption of one house in the medieval town of Braničevo. Three archaeobotanical samples from House 4 in Mali Grad -the site of Todića Crkva in the town of Braničevo were collected during excavation campaigns in 2008 and 2011. The material was analysed and, as a result, showed a clean sample structure containing 333 findings of broad bean (Vicia faba), 2 seeds of pea (Pisum sativum), and 37 fruits of Mongolian cherry (Prunus fruticosa). Only a few cereals were present in the assemblage: one seed of rye (Secale cereale), two possible findings of millet (cf. Panicum miliaceum), and two probable seeds of barley (cf. Hordeum vulgare). Archaeobotanical findings from Braničevo are raising new questions in investigations of the site's economy and represent a part of the data collection process that will hopefully continue to grow when it comes to archaeobotanical investigations of the medieval sites in the Balkans.