Food plants from late bronze age lagoon sites in Languedoc, southern France: Reconstruction of farming economy and environment

Abstract

During the late Bronze age, settlements in Languedoc, southern France, were located on the shore of lagoons lining the Mediterranean, while, in the hinterland, settlements were mainly in the form of villages or cave sites. Information on food plants has been restricted, until now, to sites in the hinterland. In this paper, the archaeobotanieal results obtained from two lagoon-shore settlements, La Fangade at S~te, and Portal Vielh at Vendres, are reported. The former provides the first waterlogged assemblage for this period in the French Mediterranean while the latter consists of a dry settlement. E m m e r and hulled, six row barley are the most common cereals occurring at the two sites. Other cereals are less frequent, although einkorn chaff is common at La Fangade. Flax, and especially opium poppy, are well represented while faba bean is the only pulse of some importance. Many wild fruits were gathered, especially acorns. Comparison with data from the hinterland suggests that the main difference lay in the cultivation of opium poppy and flax in the lagoon sites. However, may be largely an impression resulting from the differences in manner of preservation at hinterland and lagoon sites. Local production as distinct from importation of crops is considered and the conclusion is drawn that, at least at La Fangade, hulled barley was grown locally. The arable weed flora indicates that sowing took place during both autumn and spring at La Fangade.

The prehistoric pile-dwelling settlement of Stagno (Leghorn, Italy): wood and food resource exploitation

“…T. aestivum/durum is the most frequent among the cereals; T. monococcum was also present. The presence of both naked and hulled wheat was recorded in other Bronze and early Iron Age settlements in Italy (Castelletti, 1976;Nisbet, 1990;Bakels, 2002;Arobba et al, 2003;Carra et al, 2003;Mercuri et al, 2006;Bellini et al, 2008) and Southern France (Bouby et al, 1999). Evidently, even though the naked grains were already known, the cultivation of hulled wheat was still widespread, possibly because it is a rustic and resistant plant.…”

“…Evidently, even though the naked grains were already known, the cultivation of hulled wheat was still widespread, possibly because it is a rustic and resistant plant. The combination of Triticum spp., H. vulgare and P. miliaceum was observed in other contemporary settlements of the North-Western Mediterranean coastal areas (Nisbet, 1990;Bouby et al, 1999;Arobba et al, 2003) and indicates the use of a variety of cereals.…”

Un enclos cultuel sur la berge du Vidourle à Ambrussum (Villetelle, Hérault)

“…En France méridionale, les restes carpologiques les plus anciens d'olivier domestiqué ont été reconnus à Marseille dans des niveaux de la fin du premier âge du Fer (Bouby, Marinval 2000 ; Rovira inédit a). En Languedoc, sur des sites lacustres du Bronze final (Bouby et al 1999 ;Bouby 2000), où les conditions de conservation des restes carpologiques sont pourtant similaires, ces restes ne sont pas attestés. À Port-Ariane (Lattes), des noyaux ayant une biométrie proche des variétés sauvages ont été collectés dans des niveaux de la première moitié du VII e s. av.…”

Literature on archaeological remains of cultivated plants (1998/1999)

“…[30]. France: La Fangade, late Bronze Age [33]; Coudoun~u,5th century B.C. [199] [359]; in the Near East [81]; review Paleolithic to 8500 B.P.…”

“…France: Some sites in the Longuedoc hinterland, late Bronze Age [33]; Lattes, 4th century B.C. [50]; review southern France,.…”