PI: Kathleen Forste
This project conceptualizes archaeobotanical remains as evidence that can be used to investigate both agricultural systems and food production practices. It focuses on the Islamic period on the Balearic Islands, Spain (c. 10th – 13th centuries CE), and utilizes archaeological plant remains from the on-going excavations of a 13th century farming village at the site of Torred’en Galmés, Menorca.
By combining botanical, faunal, spatial, ceramic, and historical evidence, this project seeks to understand:
- What evidence is there for rainfed agricultural (dry farming) and irrigated agriculture?
- What aspects of food production (storage, cooking, serving, etc) can be reconstructed from these datasets?
- How do these agricultural and culinary practices differ from those evidenced at urban and rural sites on the mainland?
- How did people manage their island landscape?
Currently, research is being conducted to combine microbotanical (phytolith) evidence with the macrobotanical (seeds and plant parts), to complete anthracological analyses, and to find contemporary sites and textual sources to better situate the site within its cultural and historical context.
This work is part of the larger Menorca Archaeology Project (MAP).
Recent findings:
Alqueries andalusines a Menorca: Criteris d’assentament i organització dels habitatges
