Distribution patterns of cultivated plants in the Eastern Alps (Central Europe) during Iron Age

Social stratigraphy in Late Iron Age Switzerland: stable carbon, nitrogen and sulphur isotope analysis of human remains from Münsingen

“…Palaeobotanical analysis showed that wheat and barley were the most common cereals in central Europe during the Iron Age. C 4 plants were also found in the Iron Age Alpine region and southeastern France (Bouby et al 2011;Jacomet and Jacquat 1999;Schmidl et al 2007). However, the data in this study give no indication of a significant intake of C 4 plants, although males in Münsingen show a more negative δ 13 C mean than females (Table 3).…”

Agricultural change in Copper Age Croatia (ca. 4500–2500 cal B.C)?

“…The movement of remains through contexts has also been recently demonstrated from the dating of broomcorn millet that turned out to be younger than their contexts suggested (Motuzaite-Matuzeviciute et al 2013). The anomalous foxtail millet remains from one sample at Lasinja may therefore represent younger remains, especially as foxtail millet is only identified as a minor crop from the Iron Age onwards (Bakels 2013;Schmidl et al 2007). …”

Investigating the origin of hazelnut (Corylus avellana L.) cultivars using chloroplast microsatellites

“…During the spread of agriculture in Europe, C. avellana L. was one of the species domesticated and cultivated (Forni 1990;Zohary and Hopf 2001). Archaeologists have repeatedly retrieved nuts, kernels, and shell remains from many Neolithic, Bronze Age, Classical, and Medieval sites all over Europe (Bakels 1991;Russel-White 1995;Arobba et al 2003;Cleary 2003;Peña-Chocarro et al 2005;Š oštarić et al 2006;Schmidl et al 2007). Nevertheless, where and when the domestication of C. avellana L. was started is not yet clear; although it was cultivated by the Romans (Trotter 1921;White 1970;Vaughan and Geissler 1997).…”