Roman agriculture in the conventus Bracaraugustanus (NW Iberia)

• Type: Article in International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2013

Authors

João Tereso (Author) FCUP; Pablo Ramil (Author) Other; Rubim Almeida da Silva (Author) FCUP

Journal

Title: Journal of Archaeological Science

ISSN: 0305-4403

Publisher: Elsevier

Scientific classification

FOS: Humanities > History and Archaeology

CORDIS: Humanities > History > Archaeology ; Natural sciences > Biological sciences > Botany

Other information

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jas.2013.01.006

Abstract (EN): A review of archaeobotanical data, together with new, still unpublished data, from Roman sites in conventus Bracaraugustanus suggests the Romanization of the northwest Iberia brought little changes to the agricultural strategies of local communities in indigenous-type settlements. The main crops remain the same as in the Iron Age: Triticum aestivum/durum, Panicum miliaceum, Hordeum vulgare subsp. vul- gare, Triticum turgidum subsp. dicoccum and T. aestivum subsp. spelta, Avena and Vicia faba. The first secure reference for the cultivation of Secale cereale in the region comes from a Roman context, sug- gesting that it was introduced in this period, although it probably remained a minor crop. It is possible that during Roman times we have the first evidences for the cultivation of vine in the southernmost part of the conventus, near the river Douro but there are no signs of olive trees cultivation. Overall, not all the innovations usually attributed to the Romans are recorded in northwest Iberia. This fits the general scenario of a region which maintained its rural character, although with some differences in territorial organization. However, the fact that almost all the sites with fruits and seeds are indigenous-type settlements (hillforts) demands caution while interpreting the data, namely the pro- portion between continuity and innovation.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific