Neolithic of Cyrenaica (north-east Libya): New enlightenments from recent research

Faucamberge, Élodie de

doi:10.1016/j.quaint.2015.11.099

Cited by 5 publications

(1 citation statement)

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“…The region of Cyrenaica in today's eastern Libya is characterised by discrete pockets of arable land, divided by inhospitable desert, which led to multiple waves of settlement, colonisation, and cultural developments. Evidence of pottery production and animal husbandry in the Neolithic period show there were early communities in the area, and it has been noted that the local culture of Cyrenaica differed markedly from that in contemporary Tunisia [8]. Herodotus reported that the first Greek settlers in the area consisted of Dorian Greeks from the island of Thera in the 7th century BCE [9].…”

Section: Historical Background 21 Cyrene and Its Agricultural Hinterlandmentioning

confidence: 99%

Searching for Silphium: An Updated Review

Briggs

Jakobsson²

2022

Heritage

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From luxury spice to medical cure-all, silphium was a product coveted throughout the ancient world and occupied an essential place in the export economy of ancient Cyrene. The mysterious extinction of the silphium plant in the 1st century CE leaves us with little evidence as to the exact nature of this important agricultural product. In this paper, an historical background on the kingdom of Cyrene is provided, evidence for the nature of the silphium plant is reviewed, how and why it was consumed and traded is discussed. Possible causes of extinction are considered in the context of plant genetics, biometrics, and soil geochemistry. Next, we demonstrate how modern medical studies conducted on possible living relatives can inform us about claims made by ancient authors as to the medical uses of the silphium plant, including its use as a contraceptive and abortifacient. Finally, methods for recovering silphium are explored. We show how underwater archaeology and the search for ancient shipwrecks off the northern coast of Libya may offer our best chance for the recovery of botanical remains of ancient silphium, and how ancient DNA may be able to establish the genetic makeup of this elusive plant.

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Section: Historical Background 21 Cyrene and Its Agricultural Hinterlandmentioning

confidence: 99%