Plant macroremains from an early Neolithic site in eastern Kuyavia, central Poland

Abstract

The study examined plant remains from the Smólsk 2/10 site, situated on the border of two different landscapes and preserving traces of Neolithic occupation from several cultures: Early Linear Pottery culture (LBK, ca 5300-5200 cal. BC to ca 5000 cal. BC). Stroke Band Pottery culture (SBP, ca 4700-4400 cal. BC), the Brześć Kujawski group of Lengyel culture (BKG, ca 4500-4000/3900 cal. BC), Funnel Beaker culture (TRB, ca 3950-3380 BC), and also some features of the Lusatian culture (Hallstatt C, ca 970-790 cal. BC).Mostly hulled wheat remains (Triticum monococcum, T. dicoccum) were found in the LBK, SBP, and BKG cultures; they were completely absent in younger cultures (TRB, Lusatian), where barley remains appeared. Among other plants the most numerous were remains of small-grain grasses (mostly cf. Hierochloë type), feather grass (Stipa sp.), wild buckwheat (Fallopia convolvulus), and goosefoot (Chenopodium album type), but the plant remains are relatively scarce.The archaeobotanical data obtained from the site supplement data from neighbouring Osłonki to the west and Wolica Nowa to the north-west. The differences between those microregions are reflected mostly in the earlier appearance of feather grass (Stipa sp.) in the Smólsk area as well as the higher quantity of crop chaff remains in the Osłonki area, but their random occurrence, along with the fragmentariness of the archaeological data, must be taken into account. However, intentional introduction of feather grass by the first Neolithic settlers in eastern Kuyavia cannot be excluded. The relatively high proportion of small-grain grasses, usually interpreted as traces of fodder, together with the scarcity of crop remains at the Wolica Nowa site, suggests that the site was connected more with animal husbandry than with agriculture. On the other hand, the small-grain grasses at Smólsk are represented mainly by a large number of non-weedy grass (cf. Hierochloë type) grains from the crop sample, which cannot be explained in a simple way.A comparison of the anthracological data from the Osłonki and Smólsk microregions reveals differences in woodland management and differences between the local environments. Pine wood was more accessible at Smólsk than at Osłonki, due to local landscape characteristics.

The first draft genome of feather grasses using SMRT sequencing and its implications in molecular studies of Stipa

“…Currently, the earliest definite Stipa caryopses were found in central Poland and are dated ca. 4,000 BC 126 . Secondly, available data demonstrate incongruence between chloroplast and nuclear loci analyses.…”

Unexpected discovery of the Funnel Beaker culture feature at the Kraków Spadzista (Kraków-Zwierzyniec 4) site

“…Einkorn is usually noted only as an admixture in emmer yields (Kruk et al 2016). In Northern Poland, namely in the Kuyavia region, emmer or the 'new' glume wheat type dominated in the Neolithic materials as well (Bieniek 2007(Bieniek , 2002Mueller-Bieniek et al 2016). The dominance of einkorn remains was noted in single Neolithic sites from Kuyavia: Ludwinowo 7 (Mueller- and Osłonki 2 (Mueller- Bieniek 2016).…”

“…Among other cultivated plants, flax probably appeared. This plant, part of the Near Eastern crop 'package ' (zohary et al 2012), was known in Poland since the beginning of the Neolithic but was very scarce (Lityńska-zając et al 2017;Mueller-Bieniek et al 2016, 2019.…”

All things bright: copper grave goods and diet at the Neolithic site of Osłonki, Poland

“…Palaeobotanical evidence from Osl ̵onki and nearby BKG sites indicates that a suite of domestic species, dominated by emmer wheat (Triticum dicoccum), with smaller quantities of einkorn (Triticum monococcum), 'new type' glume wheat (Triticum sp.) and peas (Pisum sativum) (Bieniek 2007;Mueller-Bieniek et al 2016), were exploited. Domestic cattle and sheep/goat remains dominate the BKG faunal assemblage at Osl ̵onki, representing ∼34 and ∼35 per cent of the assemblage respectively, while pig bones comprise ∼25 per cent of the identified specimens (Bogucki 2008).…”

“…and peas ( Pisum sativum ) (Bieniek 2007; Mueller-Bieniek et al . 2016), were exploited. Domestic cattle and sheep/goat remains dominate the BKG faunal assemblage at Osłonki, representing ~34 and ~35 per cent of the assemblage respectively, while pig bones comprise ~25 per cent of the identified specimens (Bogucki 2008).…”