Journal articles by Kelly Reed
Acta Palaeobotanica , 2022
The Bronze Age in Europe is a dynamic time characterised by an increase in long-distance mobility... more The Bronze Age in Europe is a dynamic time characterised by an increase in long-distance mobility and interaction, changes in social organisation, technological advancements and evolving agricultural practices. In particular, we see an increase in the range of crops grown from the middle Bronze Age, including the introduction of new crops, such as broomcorn millet and broad bean. However, evidence of agricultural practices in Croatia is limited. This paper presents new archaeobotanical data collected from ten Bronze Age settlements and cemeteries in continental Croatia. Overall, the density of plant remains was low and consisted of either cereal grains or wild taxa, with the majority coming from Mačkovac-Crišnjevi. Oats (Avena sp.) and broomcorn millet (Panicum miliaceum) are the most dominant cereals, followed by small numbers of barley (Hordeum vulgare), emmer (Triticum dicoccum) and free-threshing wheat (Triticum aestivum/durum). The composition of the botanical remains are comparable to neighbouring regions, although the occurrence of millet and especially oats are not seen in any significance until the Iron Age.
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Food has played a central role in death rituals throughout human history, yet finding evidence of... more Food has played a central role in death rituals throughout human history, yet finding evidence of these practices in the archaeological record can be problematic. In particular, linking charred plant remains to inhumation burials requires careful consideration of the taphonomic processes involved. Here we focus on the recovery of charred plant macro-remains from four Late Antique and medieval cemeteries and one late medieval church in Croatia. The results showed low densities of both charcoal and other charred plant macro-remains, suggesting that the remains are general settlement debris that was accidentally deposited within the cemeteries and church context. At Bribirska Glavica, the sampling of stratigraphic layers at the multi-level cemetery allowed a greater understanding of taphonomic processes and corroborated the identification of a rubbish dump linked to an adjacent Roman villa. The results provide important insights for future sampling strategies, including the importance of taking control samples outside the graves and radiocarbon dating to determine whether botanical remains are related to the burials.
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Front. Sustain. Food Syst.,, 2021
The impact of human activity on the planet cannot be understated. Food systems are at the centre ... more The impact of human activity on the planet cannot be understated. Food systems are at the centre of a tangled web of interactions affecting all life. They are a complex nexus that directly and indirectly affects, and is affected by, a diverse set of social, environmental and technological phenomena. The complexity and often intractability of these interactions have created a variety of food-related problems that people seek to address in a collaborative and interdisciplinary manner through the adoption of a holistic food systems perspective. However, operationalising a systemic approach to address food system challenges is not a guarantee of success or positive outcomes. This is largely due to the partiality inherent in taking a systems perspective, and the difficulty in communicating these different perspectives among stakeholders. A functional food systems literacy is therefore required to aid people in communicating and collaborating on food system problems within dynamic learning networks. The Interdisciplinary Food Systems Teaching and Learning (IFSTAL) programme has been operating since 2015 as a social learning system to develop a food systems pedagogy with a range of multi-sectoral partners. The findings in this paper arise out of iterative reflexive practice into our teaching approach and delivery methods by former and current staff. In order to foster integrative engagement on food system challenges, we propose and define a functional food systems literacy—a theoretical minimum that can aid diverse stakeholders to explore and intervene in food systems through more effective communication and collaboration. Derived from a reflective analysis of instruments and methods in delivering the IFSTAL programme, we provide a framework that disaggregates functional food systems literacy according to four knowledge types, and includes examples of skills and activities utilised in the IFSTAL programme to support learning in these different domains. We argue that claims to comprehensive food systems knowledge are unrealistic and therefore propose that a functional food systems literacy should focus on providing a means of navigating partial claims to knowledge and uncertainty as well as fostering effective collaboration. We believe that this will enhance the capabilities of stakeholders to work effectively within dynamic learning networks.
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Environmental Archaeology, 2021
Bronze Age agriculture in Europe is marked by the adoption of new crops, such as broomcorn millet... more Bronze Age agriculture in Europe is marked by the adoption of new crops, such as broomcorn millet (Panicum miliaceum), broad bean (Vicia faba) and gold-of-pleasure (Camelina sativa). Yet, at a regional level, it is sometimes unclear when, where and why these crops are adopted and whether they were all adopted at the same time. Croatia is one such region where archaeobotanical research is limited, making it difficult to discuss Bronze Age agriculture and diet in more detail. The discovery of a burnt-down house with crop stores at Kalnik-Igrišče provides a unique archaeobotanical assemblage and snapshot of late Bronze Age agriculture (1000-800 BC). From the carbonised plant remains discovered at Kalnik-Igrišče we see a dominance in the crops broomcorn millet, barley (Hordeum vulgare), free-threshing wheat (Triticum aestivum/durum/turgidum) and broad bean. Emmer (Triticum dicoccum), spelt (Triticum spelta), and lentil (Lens culinaris) were also found, suggesting they were probably minor crops, while spatial analysis indicates distinct crop storage areas within the building. Overall, these finds support the adoption and integration of these new crops within northern Croatia by the late Bronze Age, while highlighting implications for seasonal strategies, risk management, and cultural dietary choice.
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Research on food has a long history in archaeology and anthropology, with many agreeing that we n... more Research on food has a long history in archaeology and anthropology, with many agreeing that we need to examine the food of complex societies in a more holistic way, through the various stages from production to disposal. Typically, this has occurred through the application of the concept of foodways, although this has a range of definitions and is generally only used in historical archaeological and anthropological research. By building on this important area of research this paper will explore the usefulness of applying a food-systems framework to understanding food in the past. Systems research is already well established in archaeology, sharing elements with approaches such as social-network analysis and complexity science. These theories have been used to address a broad array of questions about the relationships between actors, activities and outcomes for individuals and larger groups at a range of social scales. Thus food systems can help us to explore greater connections between food, human society and the environment via a combination of different archaeological evidence and comparative data.
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Vegetation History and Archaeobotany, 2022
Archaeobotanical investigations at the Roman town of Aelia Mursa, located near the Danube frontie... more Archaeobotanical investigations at the Roman town of Aelia Mursa, located near the Danube frontier in modern day Croatia, have revealed an extraordinary assemblage of food remains from a series of pits dated to the early 2nd century ad. The site yielded a wide array of economically important food remains, including staples such as Hordeum (barley), Panicum miliaceum (broomcorn millet), Triticum aestivum (bread wheat), Secale cereale (rye), Lens culinaris (lentil) and Vicia faba (broad bean). We also found a range of fruits, nuts, herbs and vegetables, such as Daucus carota (carrot), Cichorium intybus (chicory), Allium sativum (garlic), Ficus carica (fig), Vitis vinifera (grape) and Olea europaea (olive). Further, we found clearly identifiable remains of eggshell, fish bones and scales, unidentifiable fruit flesh and porridge or bread remains, as well as possible animal dung. The site provides important evidence of exotic foods including Piper nigrum (pepper), Oryza sp. (rice) and Punica granatum (pomegranate). This diverse and unique assemblage provides a tantalising insight into the character of food, farming and trade of the people living on the frontier of the Roman Empire.
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Vegetation History and Archaeobotany, 2022
This paper presents the results from archaeobotanical remains collected from ten medieval settlem... more This paper presents the results from archaeobotanical remains collected from ten medieval settlements and fort sites in the region of present-day Slavonia, Croatia. From the 12th century ad, Slavonia was part of the Kingdom of Hungary, although the region benefited from a certain amount of autonomy. Examining the archaeobotanical data from this period shows a diverse agricultural system, where crop fields, gardens, orchards, pastures and woodlands were all used to produce a range of cereals, fruits, nuts, vegetables and herbs, as well as fibre plants. The dataset is dominated by cereal remains, especially Triticum aestivum/durum (free-threshing wheat), Panicum miliaceum (broomcorn millet) and Secale cereale (rye). Vitis vinifera (grape pips) were the most common fruit recovered, which corresponds with the presence of vineyards and international trade in wine noted in the literature by the late Middle Ages. Also of significance was the recovery of Cannabis sativa (hemp) and Linum usitatissimum (flax), which suggest local cultivation, possibly for linen and hemp fibres, for oil or for medicinal purposes.
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Nature Food, 2020
Food systems have evolved dramatically over recent decades to feed billions of people. However, t... more Food systems have evolved dramatically over recent decades to feed billions of people. However, the ‘triple burden’ of malnutrition (hunger, insufficient nutrients, and overweight and obesity) is increasingly recognised, in parts of the world, as the ‘new normal’. The food sector is responsible for about 30% of all anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions, and contributes to decreased biodiversity, water pollution and soil degradation. Current technologies are degrading the natural resource base that underpins our food security at an alarming rate, and environmental change will hit the most marginalised in society soonest — and hardest. At the same time, we are wasting about a third of all food produced. Food systems are, however, a major source of livelihoods and a driver for innumerable businesses and enterprises. In the United Kingdom, for instance, food is the biggest manufacturing sector, contributing £28.2 billion to the economy annually and employing 400,000 people. Worldwide, however, employment in food production, manufacturing and service is some of the lowest paid work. Inequality underpins many aspects of the food system, and is often an outcome driven by the system itself.
These problems are all interconnected, and hence tend to have no clear solution or line of responsibility. Solutions and improvements in the functioning of food systems are often expected to derive from technological — and especially agricultural — innovations. Yet, we cannot look to these alone to address all the challenges. New approaches based on ‘food-systems thinking’ are required, drawing on innovative types of learning, analysis and institutional arrangements, coupled with greater collaboration between economists, agriculturalists, policy makers, ecologists, engineers, food and crop scientists, and business, among many others.
A programme developed across five UK universities aims to equip graduate professionals with the skills, tools and capabilities to better understand and manage food-system complexity for food security, for the environment and for enterprise.
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Open archaeology, 2020
Food is an excellent medium through which to explore trade, economies, migration and landscapes, ... more Food is an excellent medium through which to explore trade, economies, migration and landscapes, yet little is known about food production and consumption in the Roman province of Pannonia. Here we explore the current evidence for agriculture, trade and diet in southern Pannonia (modern day eastern Croatia) and what this may say about life in the region. The influx of new 'exotic' foods and technologies had a profound influence on this region. The limited archaeobotanical data suggests complex trade and local agricultural systems that allowed large towns such as Mursa, Cibalae and Siscia to gain access to a wide range of food items. The large quantities of pottery found not only helps us understand traded goods but also the local tastes and fashions, as well as to infer the types of dishes that could have been cooked. More evidence is clearly needed in this region but what we can see so far is that urban centres along the Danube Limes were firmly integrated within the wider Roman food system and that diets were probably quite varied for many who lived there.
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Scientific Reports, 2020
Broomcorn millet (Panicum miliaceum L.) is not one of the founder crops domesticated in Southwest... more Broomcorn millet (Panicum miliaceum L.) is not one of the founder crops domesticated in Southwest Asia in the early Holocene, but was domesticated in northeast China by 6000 BC. In Europe, millet was reported in Early Neolithic contexts formed by 6000 BC, but recent radiocarbon dating of a dozen 'early' grains cast doubt on these claims. Archaeobotanical evidence reveals that millet was common in Europe from the 2nd millennium BC, when major societal and economic transformations took place in the Bronze Age. We conducted an extensive programme of AMS-dating of charred broomcorn millet grains from 75 prehistoric sites in Europe. Our Bayesian model reveals that millet cultivation began in Europe at the earliest during the sixteenth century BC, and spread rapidly during the fifteenth/fourteenth centuries BC. Broomcorn millet succeeds in exceptionally wide range of growing conditions and completes its lifecycle in less than three summer months. Offering an additional harvest and thus surplus food/fodder, it likely was a transformative innovation in European prehistoric agriculture previously based mainly on (winter) cropping of wheat and barley. We provide a new, high-resolution chronological framework for this key agricultural development that likely contributed to far-reaching changes in lifestyle in late 2nd millennium BC Europe.
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Archaeologia Adriatica, 2018
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Cereals were a significant part of the Roman diet, yet knowledge about their cultivation, distrib... more Cereals were a significant part of the Roman diet, yet knowledge about their cultivation, distribution and consumption in certain regions is particularly lacking. In Europe, studies generally suggest that from the Iron Age to the Roman period there was a reduction in barley cultivation, an increase in spelt over emmer, a preference for free-threshing wheat over glume wheats, as well as the increased cultivation of rye and oats. Up till now, there was little evidence on crop cultivation in Croatia, but the discovery of around 24,000 cereal grains from the oven of a 2nd-4th c. ad Roman villa in the modern town of Osijek provides important insights into diet and subsistence in the Roman province of Pannonia. Here, the dominance of free-threshing wheat, spelt and rye with only a relatively small amount of other cereals, chaff and weeds corresponds well with this pattern seen elsewhere in Europe. The relatively clean grain deposit suggests that this sample represents processed grain ready for final food preparation and consumption at the villa. The morphological variation and overlap seen between the carbonised spelt and free-threshing wheat grains, as well as the identification of ‘stunted’ cereal grains, is also discussed.
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Prilozi Instituta za arheologiju u Zagrebu 35, 29-70, 2018
Mala (Nova) Pećina cave is located in Croatia, in the Dalmatian Hinterland (Dalmatinska Zagora), ... more Mala (Nova) Pećina cave is located in Croatia, in the Dalmatian Hinterland (Dalmatinska Zagora), a mountainous region which is the contact zone between the eastern Adriatic coast and the interior. The excavations in Mala Pećina uncovered an Early and Late Neolithic cave site that might be key for a better understanding of the relationship between the coastal groups and the communities of the western Balkan interior. This paper aims to present the finds and contextual data from the 2016 excavations and the consequent 2017 study season. It presents an account of the pottery and lithic assemblages along with the zooarchaeological and archaeobotanical data from the cave. The preliminary evidence suggests that the cave was not used as a long term dwelling but rather as a temporary shelter, either for groups that were moving through the mountains or for groups that visited the cave for short term activities. The excavations have also shown a possible distinction between the use of the cave in the Early Neolithic, when people dwelled there and possibly engaged in ritual activities, and the Late Neolithic, when it was mostly used by shepherds. Mala Pećina is therefore particularly important as it offers the potential to better understand the interactions between the coast and the hinterland during the Neolithic.
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This paper presents archaeobotanical evidence of rice (Oryza cf. sativa L.) and black pepper (Pip... more This paper presents archaeobotanical evidence of rice (Oryza cf. sativa L.) and black pepper (Piper nigrum) recovered from an early 2nd century AD septic pit excavated near the centre of colonia Aelia Mursa (Osijek, Croatia). Within Roman Panonnia the archaeobotanical record shows evidence of trade consisting mostly of local Mediterranean goods such as olives, grapes and figs, however, the recovery of rice and black pepper from Mursa provides the first evidence of exotics arriving to Pannonia from Asia. Preliminary thoughts on the role of these foods within the colony and who may have been consuming them are briefly discussed. The Roman period represents a time of major change in the diet of newly assimilated regions and the results here highlight the contribution that archaeobotanical remains can make to the growing discourse on the development of societies on the Roman frontier.
First published online 2017
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The recovery of new plant remains from eastern Croatia are discussed here in order to determine t... more The recovery of new plant remains from eastern Croatia are discussed here in order to determine their ritual significance and how this evidence may fit into chronological and regional observations on ritual plant offerings in the Roman world. Samples collected from inhumations, cremations and an altar dedicated to Silvanus Domesticus, dating from the 2nd to 4th centuries AD, are presented and show that a range of more ‘common’ plant remains, such as cereals and pulses, were an important part of ritual life. These results are also compared to the growing archaeobotanical data collected from shrine and cremation burials across Europe. Although the archaeobotanical data from the Croatian sites are limited, the increasing evidence of ritual plant use allows observations regarding the wider context of Roman social and religious change.
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Perspectives from the recent and ancient past are largely underutilized in modern sustainability ... more Perspectives from the recent and ancient past are largely underutilized in modern sustainability or food systems studies. However, information about regional crop histories and land use systems through time can add essential value and context to debates concerning future agricultural strategies and food security. In particular, archaeological and anthropological research can provide long-term perspectives on adaptive solutions and agricultural resilience that could support strategies for sustainable agriculture, especially in developing countries. This paper explores this debate within a food systems framework and highlights the need for researchers to work across disciplines and sectors to share knowledge, exchange ideas and create solutions in order to meet the challenges of feeding the world in a healthy, equitable, sustainable and resilient way.
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Interdisciplinaria Archaeologica 10(1), 2019
Kelly Reed, Ivana Ožanić Roguljić, Siniša Radović, Tatjana Kolak
Interdisciplinaria Archaeologica... more Kelly Reed, Ivana Ožanić Roguljić, Siniša Radović, Tatjana Kolak
Interdisciplinaria Archaeologica 10(1): Online First, 2019. Online First, 16 May 2019
Large volumes of work exist on Roman villas; however, what the inhabitants ate on a daily basis at
these sites is frequently overlooked. Here we present archaeobotanical, zooarchaeological and pottery
evidence to explore aspects of daily consumption patterns within the rural villa of Lički Ribnik, Croatia.
The remains date from the second half of the 2nd to the first half of the 3rd century AD and provide the
first evidence of villa consumption in the Lika region. The discovery of broomcorn millet (Panicum
miliaceum) grains, domestic cattle (Bos taurus) and sheep (Ovis aries) bones suggest that they were
consumed at the site. Different pottery types and fabrics also suggest a range of dishes were cooked,
including the Roman dish patina. Although these conclusions are based on very limited data, the study
shows the importance of looking at environmental evidence in conjunction with other archaeological
material in order to explore local diet and economy in the Roman period.
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This paper examines three early medieval ritual house deposits from Bribirska glavica, Dalmatia, ... more This paper examines three early medieval ritual house deposits from Bribirska glavica, Dalmatia, Croatia.
Discovered over the last century these items bring to the fore questions regarding the relationship between state
and secular religion in a region that experienced numerous encounters and confrontations within and between
different social groups. This paper explores these complexities using the term ‘religious imaginaries’ to describe
how a sense of collective identity may manifest itself through individual and collective practice, focusing on the
value of the discovered objects (chickens, eggs, whetstones and plant remains) and their ritual framings. In
particular, the recovery of archaeobotanical remains highlights the importance of examining plant use in ritual
deposits. Overall, despite some variation in the interpretations of the practice of ‘special’ offerings, the majority
of studies draw the conclusion that items hidden in this manner provide a broadly protective or apotropaic
function. Thus, these finds provide important insights into the development of religious and ritual beliefs in early
medieval Dalmatia, suggesting that the community’s religious imaginary comprised a set of values and symbols
that hybridised the Christian faith with elements of ‘folk magic’ to re-inforce the apotropaic power of their ritual
acts.
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The Copper Age in the Carpathian Basin is marked by a distinct change in settlement patterns, mat... more The Copper Age in the Carpathian Basin is marked by a distinct change in settlement patterns, material culture, social traditions and subsistence practices; however, few studies address the nature of crop cultivation in the region. This paper examines new archaeobotanical data from 13 Copper Age (ca. 4500–2500 cal BC) sites located in continental Croatia, in order to assess the extent to which crop agriculture may have changed and contributed to overall subsistence economies in the Copper Age. From the archaeobotanical results, a dominance in einkorn and emmer is seen followed by barley. Less frequently millet, naked wheat and spelt/new glume wheat are also recovered, but due to their limited numbers, it is less clear whether they were grown as crops or represent weeds. Pulses (e.g. lentil, pea and grass pea), fruit
remains (e.g. cornelian cherry and chinese lantern) and wild
plant and weed species are also recovered, although more commonly from the late Copper Age sites. The archaeobotanical results show a clear reduction in the quantity and range of plant species recovered during the early/middle Copper Age; however, this is likely the result of taphonomic bias rather than a reduction in crop cultivation. The results therefore highlight problems of recovery bias in the region, which makes comparisons between sites as well as the reconstruction of crop husbandry regimes difficult. Overall, the results from continental Croatia suggest that the type of crops cultivated continued relatively unchanged from the late Neolithic, although it is clear that more research is desperately needed to explore the relationship between crop agriculture and the changing socio-economic environment of the
Copper Age in the region.
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This paper presents archaeobotanical data from three late Neolithic Sopot Culture (c.5200–4000 ca... more This paper presents archaeobotanical data from three late Neolithic Sopot Culture (c.5200–4000 cal BC) tell sites, Sopot, Slavca and Ravnjas, located in eastern Croatia. Tell settlements are well suited for exploring aspects of diet and subsistence, as they present a concentrated area with successive generations building upon previous occupation levels. The plant remains from the three study sites suggest a crop-based diet of mainly einkorn, emmer, barley, lentil and pea, as well as evidence of crop-processing activities. This diet was also probably supplemented by wild fruit from the local environment, such as cornelian cherry, chinese lantern and blackberry.
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Journal articles by Kelly Reed
These problems are all interconnected, and hence tend to have no clear solution or line of responsibility. Solutions and improvements in the functioning of food systems are often expected to derive from technological — and especially agricultural — innovations. Yet, we cannot look to these alone to address all the challenges. New approaches based on ‘food-systems thinking’ are required, drawing on innovative types of learning, analysis and institutional arrangements, coupled with greater collaboration between economists, agriculturalists, policy makers, ecologists, engineers, food and crop scientists, and business, among many others.
A programme developed across five UK universities aims to equip graduate professionals with the skills, tools and capabilities to better understand and manage food-system complexity for food security, for the environment and for enterprise.
First published online 2017
Interdisciplinaria Archaeologica 10(1): Online First, 2019. Online First, 16 May 2019
Large volumes of work exist on Roman villas; however, what the inhabitants ate on a daily basis at
these sites is frequently overlooked. Here we present archaeobotanical, zooarchaeological and pottery
evidence to explore aspects of daily consumption patterns within the rural villa of Lički Ribnik, Croatia.
The remains date from the second half of the 2nd to the first half of the 3rd century AD and provide the
first evidence of villa consumption in the Lika region. The discovery of broomcorn millet (Panicum
miliaceum) grains, domestic cattle (Bos taurus) and sheep (Ovis aries) bones suggest that they were
consumed at the site. Different pottery types and fabrics also suggest a range of dishes were cooked,
including the Roman dish patina. Although these conclusions are based on very limited data, the study
shows the importance of looking at environmental evidence in conjunction with other archaeological
material in order to explore local diet and economy in the Roman period.
Discovered over the last century these items bring to the fore questions regarding the relationship between state
and secular religion in a region that experienced numerous encounters and confrontations within and between
different social groups. This paper explores these complexities using the term ‘religious imaginaries’ to describe
how a sense of collective identity may manifest itself through individual and collective practice, focusing on the
value of the discovered objects (chickens, eggs, whetstones and plant remains) and their ritual framings. In
particular, the recovery of archaeobotanical remains highlights the importance of examining plant use in ritual
deposits. Overall, despite some variation in the interpretations of the practice of ‘special’ offerings, the majority
of studies draw the conclusion that items hidden in this manner provide a broadly protective or apotropaic
function. Thus, these finds provide important insights into the development of religious and ritual beliefs in early
medieval Dalmatia, suggesting that the community’s religious imaginary comprised a set of values and symbols
that hybridised the Christian faith with elements of ‘folk magic’ to re-inforce the apotropaic power of their ritual
acts.
remains (e.g. cornelian cherry and chinese lantern) and wild
plant and weed species are also recovered, although more commonly from the late Copper Age sites. The archaeobotanical results show a clear reduction in the quantity and range of plant species recovered during the early/middle Copper Age; however, this is likely the result of taphonomic bias rather than a reduction in crop cultivation. The results therefore highlight problems of recovery bias in the region, which makes comparisons between sites as well as the reconstruction of crop husbandry regimes difficult. Overall, the results from continental Croatia suggest that the type of crops cultivated continued relatively unchanged from the late Neolithic, although it is clear that more research is desperately needed to explore the relationship between crop agriculture and the changing socio-economic environment of the
Copper Age in the region.
These problems are all interconnected, and hence tend to have no clear solution or line of responsibility. Solutions and improvements in the functioning of food systems are often expected to derive from technological — and especially agricultural — innovations. Yet, we cannot look to these alone to address all the challenges. New approaches based on ‘food-systems thinking’ are required, drawing on innovative types of learning, analysis and institutional arrangements, coupled with greater collaboration between economists, agriculturalists, policy makers, ecologists, engineers, food and crop scientists, and business, among many others.
A programme developed across five UK universities aims to equip graduate professionals with the skills, tools and capabilities to better understand and manage food-system complexity for food security, for the environment and for enterprise.
First published online 2017
Interdisciplinaria Archaeologica 10(1): Online First, 2019. Online First, 16 May 2019
Large volumes of work exist on Roman villas; however, what the inhabitants ate on a daily basis at
these sites is frequently overlooked. Here we present archaeobotanical, zooarchaeological and pottery
evidence to explore aspects of daily consumption patterns within the rural villa of Lički Ribnik, Croatia.
The remains date from the second half of the 2nd to the first half of the 3rd century AD and provide the
first evidence of villa consumption in the Lika region. The discovery of broomcorn millet (Panicum
miliaceum) grains, domestic cattle (Bos taurus) and sheep (Ovis aries) bones suggest that they were
consumed at the site. Different pottery types and fabrics also suggest a range of dishes were cooked,
including the Roman dish patina. Although these conclusions are based on very limited data, the study
shows the importance of looking at environmental evidence in conjunction with other archaeological
material in order to explore local diet and economy in the Roman period.
Discovered over the last century these items bring to the fore questions regarding the relationship between state
and secular religion in a region that experienced numerous encounters and confrontations within and between
different social groups. This paper explores these complexities using the term ‘religious imaginaries’ to describe
how a sense of collective identity may manifest itself through individual and collective practice, focusing on the
value of the discovered objects (chickens, eggs, whetstones and plant remains) and their ritual framings. In
particular, the recovery of archaeobotanical remains highlights the importance of examining plant use in ritual
deposits. Overall, despite some variation in the interpretations of the practice of ‘special’ offerings, the majority
of studies draw the conclusion that items hidden in this manner provide a broadly protective or apotropaic
function. Thus, these finds provide important insights into the development of religious and ritual beliefs in early
medieval Dalmatia, suggesting that the community’s religious imaginary comprised a set of values and symbols
that hybridised the Christian faith with elements of ‘folk magic’ to re-inforce the apotropaic power of their ritual
acts.
remains (e.g. cornelian cherry and chinese lantern) and wild
plant and weed species are also recovered, although more commonly from the late Copper Age sites. The archaeobotanical results show a clear reduction in the quantity and range of plant species recovered during the early/middle Copper Age; however, this is likely the result of taphonomic bias rather than a reduction in crop cultivation. The results therefore highlight problems of recovery bias in the region, which makes comparisons between sites as well as the reconstruction of crop husbandry regimes difficult. Overall, the results from continental Croatia suggest that the type of crops cultivated continued relatively unchanged from the late Neolithic, although it is clear that more research is desperately needed to explore the relationship between crop agriculture and the changing socio-economic environment of the
Copper Age in the region.
This short paper summarizes on-going research on archaeobotanical remains collected from 18 sites within Croatia and Serbia, ranging from the Late Neolithic to the Late Bronze Age (5500-800 BC).
(http://www.archaeopress.com/ArchaeopressShop/Public/displayProductDetail.asp?id={25C6B604-ACC5-4DBC-B246-32D27486379F})
The Segestica and Siscia – a settlement from the beginning of history exhibition and catalogue try to provide an answer to this question. They present the founding, development, and the cultural dynamics of this exceptional settlement, the everyday lives of its inhabitants, their attire and warrior equipment, their diet, their economic and trading activities, and their spiritual life.
Finds that are kept in the collections of the Archaeological Museum in Zagreb, the Sisak Municipal Museum, and the Hungarian National Museum (Magyar Nemzeti Múzeum), accompanied by the results of contemporary archaeological research, have allowed the study of the continual development of the prehistoric settlement in Sisak throughout the first millennium BC, up until 35 BC, when this settlement, situated at the key strategic position for taking over Pannonia, was conquered by Roman legions led by Octavian, the future emperor Augustus. That is when the settlement became an important military stronghold that later developed into the famous Roman city of Siscia.
Call for papers now open
See the below paper for information: https://www.academia.edu/33288603/Reed_K._2016._Archaeobotany_in_Croatia_An_overview._Journal_of_the_Archaeological_Museum_in_Zagreb_49_1_7-28