Olive cultivation in the heart of the Persian Achaemenid Empire: new insights into agricultural practices and environmental changes reflected in a late Holocene pollen record from Lake Parishan, SW Iran

Abstract

International audienceAncient Persia witnessed one of its most prosperous cultural and socio-economic periods between 550 bc and ad 651, with the successive domination of the Achaemenid, Seleucid, Parthian and Sassanian Empires. During this period agricultural activities increased on the Iranian plateau, as demonstrated by a remarkable arboricultural expansion. However, available data are not very informative about the spatial organization of agricultural practices. The possible links between climate conditions and agricultural activities during this millennium of continuous imperial domination are also unclear, due to the lack of parallel human-independent palaeoclimatic proxies. This study presents a new late Holocene pollen-based vegetation record from Lake Parishan, SW Iran. This record provides invaluable information regarding anthropogenic activities before, during and after the empires and sheds light on (i) spatial patterning in agricultural activities and (ii) possible climate impacts on agro-sylvo-pastoral practices during this period. Results of this study indicate that arboriculture was the most prominent form of agricultural activity in SW Iran especially during the Achaemenid, Seleucid and Parthian periods. Contrary to the information provided by some Greco-Roman written sources, the record from Lake Parishan shows that olive cultivation was practiced during Achaemenid and Seleucid times, when olive cultivation was significant, at least in this basin located close to the capital area of the Achaemenid Empire. In addition, pollen from aquatic vegetation suggests that the period of the latter centuries of the first millennium bc was characterized by a higher lake level, which might have favoured cultural and socio-economic prosperity

7300 years of vegetation history and climate for NW Malta: a Holocene perspective

“…The Roman villa of San Pawl Milqi, situated within the catchment area, has substantial structures for olive pressing and oil production (Cefai et al, 2005). Also supporting this idea is the nearby presence of an ancient grove that is situated next to a surveyed but unexcavated Roman villa (Docter et al, 2012). Furthermore, the scale and quantity of these archeological remains suggest that the oil production exceeded the needs of the local population (Gambin, 2005;Marriner et al, 2012).…”

“…In fact Florenanzo (2013) notes that this level decreased to just 2.1-7.6 % at 500 m from the stand. Djamali et al (2015) suggest that their SW Iran Olea levels, reaching 8.2 %, indicate small-scale olive groves distributed over the catchment area. With this is mind, the origin of BM2's Olea increase, if not from Burmarrad, is most likely still from within the islands.…”

Organic residue analysis of Iron Age ceramics from the archaeological site of Kani‐zirin, western Iran

“…Based on the pollen data collected from Lake Parishan in south‐western Iran, we have strong evidence that the Achaemenids planted pine tree (Djamali et al . ). The Achaemenids were, however, not the first to introduce exotic trees to Iran, and it is very possible that the neo‐Assyrians and Elamites introduced pine, plane and others to Iran (Djamali, personal communication).…”

Vegetation history and human-environment interactions through the late Holocene in Konar Sandal, SE Iran

“…Small Poaceae pollen (<30 mm) are believed to be produced mostly by Phragmites, which are local producers (Djamali et al, 2016). The upland plants, predominantly desert shrubs (Calligonum/Pteropyrum and Ephedraceae) and herbs (Artemisia) are crucial for interpreting past regional climates.…”