According to the core-periphery model of economic geography, the Medieval and Early Modern Czech lands can be called a semi-periphery. They are located in a hilly part of central Europe, in the shadows of the world's naval powers. Over the centuries this location has greatly influenced their domestic consumer society, in many ways lacking in self-sufficiency and often having to rely on the import of foreign and exotic goods through a global sales network; amongst these rare goods were different kinds of spices. These imported species, specifically assimilated, became not only an important part of the diet, but also a symbol of luxury. This paper presents the current state of research into exotic spices that have been discovered in archaeological contexts in today's Czech Republic, and illustrates their importance for the interpretation of trade in exotic goods and the historical socio-cultural level of local consumers.

paleoecologists, archaeologists, and vegetation ecologists, in order to create an effective space for the study of climatic, cultural, as well as landscape, changes in vegetation and crops along a gradient from northern Africa, across central Europe, and up to the coldest areas of the north. The purpose of the project has been to connect and coordinate key experts of international repute and thus provide the South Bohemian team the dynamics and impulses for development of top quality research by means of internships, lectures, workshops, conferences, as well as by everyday communication tools. The project has created a suitable environment for young researchers and PhD students by including them in clearly-defined structures of ongoing research on attractive topics. Team activity has been based on three panels in the fields of environmental archaeology, paleoecology, and vegetation ecology. The aims of such activity have been to coordinate with each other and create a team producing synergistic outcomes. A further aim of