Cultivos de Época Romana no Baixo Sabor: continuidade em tempos de mudança?

Abstract

During the excavation of eight roman sites in the Lower Sabor valley, sediment samples were recovered and carpological analyses were carried out in order to obtain data regarding agriculture and storage. Naked wheat was the most frequent crop during the Roman period, but barley and millet were also relevant. The presence of grapes is documented while pulses and other wild edible plants were scarce. These results contrast with those found in other regions of Northwest Iberia, both in Roman Times and the Iron Age, where hulled wheats were particularly relevant. Current available data does not allow us to know the reason behind the specificities of the Sabor valley’s sites, although some environmental and cultural aspects may provide suitable explanations.

Plant Economy in the Westernmost Territory of the Roman State Through Waste: The Wet Site of O Areal (Vigo, Spain)

“…Their seeds were used as a local anaesthetic and were prepared in an ointment with wool fat for treating soldiers' pain (Belfiglio 2017). Henbane has also been recorded at other sites in northwestern Iberia (Tereso et al 2020;Vaz et al 2017), although it has not been associated with any medicinal use and here is considered as a weed.…”

“…Pérez-Jordà et al 2021). Certainly, it was not until the Roman conquest that new food crops (possibly including rye) and ornamental species (Cupressus sempervirens) were introduced and the interior and north of the Peninsula became home to plants cultivated in the Mediterranean area (vines, figs, olives, peaches, melons) (Alonso Martínez 2005;Peña-Chocarro et al 2019;Teira Brión and Rey Castiñeira 2021;Tereso et al 2020;Vaz et al 2016).…”

“…The intactness of many paleas and lemmas among the present remains thus rules out their processing for human consumption. The other cereals found, i.e., Triticum aestivum/durum and Hordeum vulgare, together with Panicum miliaceum, are the most common species found at sites with charred materials from this period (cf Peña-Chocarro et al 2019;Teira Brión 2019;Tereso et al 2020;Tereso et al 2013)…”

Crops on the Rocks: Production, Processing, and Storage at the Early Medieval Site of Senhora Do Barrocal (Municipality of Sátão, Central Portugal)

“…Even though vine was not identified in the charcoal analysis it cannot be ruled out that vines were locally cultivated. The absence of wood in sites with pips is common in several chronologies, even where facilities and vessels related to wine production and storage were identified (e.g., [97]).…”