- Archaeology, Middle East, Arabian/Persian Gulf Archaeology, Anthracology, Indian Ocean Archaeology, Archaeobotany, and 10 morePaleoethnobotany, Maritime trade, Archaeology of Oman peninsula, Archaeoentomology, Islamic Archaeology, Antiquity, Ichnology, Ancient Trade & Commerce (Archaeology), Carpologie, and Iron Ageedit
- My research aims to reconstruct the adaptative plant acquiring strategies set up by ancient and medieval societies to... moreMy research aims to reconstruct the adaptative plant acquiring strategies set up by ancient and medieval societies to face aridity in the eastern part of the Arabian Peninsula using multi-disciplinary approach including wide array of botanical (seeds and fruits, charcoals, dry woods, phytoliths) and insect remains. I am particularly focused on the central role of oasian agroecosystems in interaction with environmental and trade dynamics during these historical periods and how human societies took advantage of this constraining environment (environmental and geographic advantages) to obtain various plant resources (food, fodder, fuel, textile…). The installation and the management of the resilient oasian agroecosystems and their diversification with the acclimatization of new plants (e.g. sorghum, rice, mango tree, for example) constitutes a favourite subject. I am very interested about the long-term evolution of past vegetation and the impact of climatic fluctuations and human activities on the abundance, diversity, and distribution of the natural formations. I am also particularly focused on the long-distance trade of plant products (e.g. pepper, rice, cotton, for example) in an historical and archaeological context of increasing exchanges within the Arabo-Persian Gulf and the western Indian ocean.
I am currently involved as post-doctoral researcher (2022-2023) in the ArcAgr-AU project which aims to reconstruct the emergence and evolution of the core oasis in the valley of al-Ula (Saudi Arabia) under the supervision of Louise Purdue in the UMR 7264 “Cultures et Environnements : Préhistoire, Antiquité, Moyen-Âge”. Previously, I was involved in the Eco-Seed project (AFALULA, CNRS) aiming to focus on the agrobiodiversity and the natural ecosystem evolution of the al-Ula oasis (Saudi Arabia) with botanical remains recovered from natural and anthropogenic contexts under the supervision of Charlène Bouchaud in the UMR 7209 “Archéozoologie, Archéobotanique: Sociétés, Pratiques et Environnements”. I have defended a PhD thesis entitled “Plant supplying strategies and resources management in eastern Arabia during the Classical and Islamic period: archaeobotanical and archaeo-entomological analyses” at the National Museum of Natural History (Paris, France) in February 2019 under the supervision of Margareta Tengberg (MNHN) and Jean-Pierre Van Staëvel (Paris 1). In the framework of my PhD, I have carried out several field missions and laboratory analyses on material from five archaeological sites in the Kingdom of Bahrain (Qal’at al-Bahreïn, dir: P. Lombard), the United Arab Emirates (Kush, dir. D. Kennet; Mleiha, dir: M. Mouton) and the Sultanate of Oman (Fulayj, dir: S. Priestman; Qalhât, dir: A. Rougeulle). In addition of these sites on which I am still participating, I am also working on archaeobotanical material from a wide array of Classical and medieval Islamic archaeological sites.edit
Le poivre constitue un objet d’étude privilégié pour aborder la notion de luxe en archéobotanique. Après avoir établi les critères d’identification des poivres de l’espèce Piper nigrum en archéologie, une synthèse des découvertes... more
Le poivre constitue un objet d’étude privilégié pour aborder la notion de luxe en archéobotanique. Après avoir établi les critères d’identification des poivres de l’espèce Piper nigrum en archéologie, une synthèse des découvertes archéobotaniques a été effectuée afin de les replacer dans leur contexte archéologique et de déterminer leurs significations économiques, sociales et culturelles au regard de la consommation et du commerce du poivre dans l’Antiquité au sein de différents espaces géographiques. Dans ce cadre, la définition du statut luxueux du poivre y fait l’objet d’une attention particulière. De nouvelles occurrences de poivres en provenance d’une résidence élitaire incendiée sur le site antique de Mleiha (E.A.U.) sont mentionnées. Il s’agit de la première attestation archéobotanique de poivre dans la péninsule Arabique. Il y est question de la valeur que pouvait avoir le poivre pour la société qui occupait ce site archéologique, des indices sur l’origine culturelle des habitants ainsi que des utilisations qui peuvent avoir été faites du poivre.
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The recent study of botanical macro-remains from the Late Sasanian and Early Islamic (5th to 8th century) fort of Fulayj (Batinah, Sultanate of Oman) provides a unique opportunity to discuss food and fuel acquisition strategies in an arid... more
The recent study of botanical macro-remains from the Late Sasanian and Early Islamic (5th to 8th century) fort of Fulayj (Batinah, Sultanate of Oman) provides a unique opportunity to discuss food and fuel acquisition strategies in an arid environment and to document periods that are little known from an archaeobotanical perspective in Eastern Arabia. Seed assemblages include the first well-identified and directly radiocarbon dated evidence of sorghum (Sorghum bicolor ssp. bicolor (L.) Moench.) in Eastern Arabia, which raises the question of whether the grain was imported from distant sources (for example Yemen, East Africa or India) or locally cultivated. In addition to sorghum, the food plant assemblage includes hulled barley (Hordeum vulgare), date (Phoenix dactylifera) and jujube (Ziziphus cf. spina-christi). Date palm gardens may have existed near to the site as they do today or food products may have been brought from date palm gardens on the Batinah coast where conditions for ...
Research Interests: Geography, Earth Sciences, Middle East Studies, International Trade, Food History, and 12 moreIndian Ocean History, Arid environments, Biological Sciences, Environmental Sciences, Sorghum, Sasanian Archaeology, Oasis, Sultanate of Oman, Vegetation, Gulf of Oman, Archaeology of the Arabian Peninsula, and Arabian Peninsula In Antiquity
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Few archaeobotanical studies have been undertaken on Islamic period sites in Eastern Arabia. Excavations conducted by Dr. Axelle Rougeulle (UMR 8167) at Qalhât in the framework of the Qalhât Development Project, have provided the... more
Few archaeobotanical studies have been undertaken on Islamic period sites in Eastern Arabia. Excavations conducted by Dr. Axelle Rougeulle (UMR 8167) at Qalhât in the framework of the Qalhât Development Project, have provided the opportunity to improve our knowledge on plant consumption and supply strategies. Samples from the workshop B39 (14 th -16 th c. AD) excavated in 2014-2015 have provided a substantial amount of seed and fruit remains that are the object of this study. First, the distribution of plant remains within B39 provides us with hints to the use of the different spaces. Thus it is suggested that domestic activities such as food preparation and the cleaning of crops prior to their consumption took place mostly in room E. Then, most of the remains correspond to crops of tropical origin such as Asian rice (Oryza sativa), finger millet (Eleusine coracana ssp. coracana), mung bean (Vigna cf. radiata), mat bean (Vigna cf. aconitifolia), cowpea (Vigna unguiculata) and sesame (Sesamum indicum). Their presence at the site raises the question of their origin, either as imported goods or crops cultivated locally. In the case of an importation, the Indian subcontinent seems to be the most probable centre of origin although other regions, notably Yemen, may also be considered. Further, we discuss the possibility for the introduction of tropical crops into local agrosystems present near the site.
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Asian rice (Oryza sativa L.) was identified, among other plant remains, from several contexts in a fortified elite residence at the site of Mleiha (United Arab Emirates) that was partially destroyed by fire in the third century AD. These... more
Asian rice (Oryza sativa L.) was identified, among other plant remains, from several contexts in a fortified elite residence at the site of Mleiha (United Arab Emirates) that was partially destroyed by fire in the third century AD. These remains, present both as isolated grains and as clusters of rice, constitute the earliest example of the species in the Arabian Peninsula and raise numerous questions on the role of rice in local economies during the Late Pre-Islamic period. The discussion focuses on two aspects of the finds. On the one hand, the state of preservation and the archaeological contexts of the rice remains are investigated in detail in order to reconstruct crop processing activities that might have taken place within the building as well as different aspects of the preparation and consumption of what seems to have been a rare crop. On the other hand, we discuss the origin of the Mleiha rice weighing the possible cultivation in local irrigated date palm gardens against its importation through the long-distance trade networks across the Persian Gulf and the Indian Ocean that are well attested by archaeological and textual sources for the period of concern.
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Little archaeobotanical data has been so far recorded from historical periods in the Oman peninsula. The excavations carried out under the direction of M. Mouton (CNRS) in 2010 and 2011 of a burnt building at Mleiha (Sharjah Emirate)... more
Little archaeobotanical data has been so far recorded from historical periods in the Oman peninsula. The excavations carried out under the direction of M. Mouton (CNRS) in 2010 and 2011 of a burnt building at Mleiha (Sharjah Emirate) dated to the end of the pre-Islamic period (middle of the 3rd century AD) have now provided a large amount of exceptionally well-preserved organic remains such as seeds, fruits, charcoals, fibres and amorphous remains. This discovery gives us the unique opportunity to reconstruct the agrarian economy and bring to light new information about the diffusion of plants during this period. The results of both seed and charcoal analysis show the presence of an oasis agrosystem nearby the site, mainly based on the cultivation of date palms, irrigated thanks to wells giving access to the groundwater. The seed and fruit assemblages reflect the typical vertical organisation of date palm garden containing also cereals, pulses, vegetables and fruit trees. In additio...
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Le Qalhât Development Project a extensivement fouillé depuis 2013 plusieurs bâtiments de fonctions variées sur le site portuaire médiéval de Qalhât en Oman (12e-16e siècles). Parmi ceux-ci une structure d’habitat (B94), en fait deux... more
Le Qalhât Development Project a extensivement fouillé depuis 2013 plusieurs bâtiments de fonctions variées sur le site portuaire médiéval de Qalhât en Oman (12e-16e siècles). Parmi ceux-ci une structure d’habitat (B94), en fait deux maisons accolées présentant chacune plusieurs pièces autour d’une cour, et un étage. Construit au 14e siècle sur l’arase d’un bâtiment antérieur, cet édifice fut occupé jusqu’à l’abandon de la ville dans la seconde moitié du 16e siècle. Il a livré de nombreuses traces d’activité domestiques et artisanales, essentiellement centrées sur la transformation des produits de l’agriculture, de la pêche et de l’élevage. L’analyse détaillée des restes archéobotaniques, archéozoologiques et ichtyologiques apporte des informations très intéressantes sur le quotidien des habitants de la maison, les techniques mises en œuvre et l’économie locale. Associée à l’étude du matériel et notamment des nombreuses céramiques d’importation, elle fournit un aperçu significatif de la vie d’un grand port omanais de l’époque d’Hormuz. Qalhât was a main Omani coastal city on the Indian Ocean in the 12th to 16th century and several buildings were extensively excavated there in the course of the Qalhât Development Project (2013sq). Among them is house B94, made of two contiguous units with several rooms around a courtyard. B94 was built in the 14th century on the erased level of an earlier building, and it was occupied until the abandonment of the city in the second half of the 16th. It delivered many traces of domestic and craft activities, which are mostly related to the processing of products from agriculture and fishing. The study of archaeobotanical, archaeozoological and ichtyological material brings interesting information as to the daily life of the inhabitants, the local technics and economy of a great harbour of the Hormuz kingdom.
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Les campagnes de fouilles menees sur plusieurs sites antiques et islamiques en Arabie orientale ont livre des macrorestes botaniques et entomologiques. Les sites inclus dans le corpus sont Qal’at al-Bahrein (Royaume de Bahrein), Kush et... more
Les campagnes de fouilles menees sur plusieurs sites antiques et islamiques en Arabie orientale ont livre des macrorestes botaniques et entomologiques. Les sites inclus dans le corpus sont Qal’at al-Bahrein (Royaume de Bahrein), Kush et Mleiha (E.A.U.) et Fulayj et Qalhât (Sultanat d’Oman). Ce travail se base sur des analyses carpologiques, anthracologiques, xylologiques et archeoentomologiques. Il s’attache a determiner les strategies d’approvisionnement et de gestion des ressources vegetales mises en place par les societes des periodes historiques, de l’Antiquite a l’arrivee des Portugais dans l’ocean Indien, au sein d’un environnement aride contraignant et d’un contexte de dynamiques commerciales. L’agriculture est reconnue sous la forme de palmeraies, un agrosysteme oasien, polycultural et irrigue, au sein desquelles etaient cultives des cereales, des legumineuses, des fruitiers et des condiments. Des informations concernant les modalites de stockage et des mesures de conservati...
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Peu de recherches archeobotaniques ont ete entreprises dans la peninsule d’Oman sur les sites datant du Pre-Islamique Recent (3eme siecle BC – 3eme siecle AD). L’etude du materiel archeobotanique issu du site de Mleiha tend a combler ce... more
Peu de recherches archeobotaniques ont ete entreprises dans la peninsule d’Oman sur les sites datant du Pre-Islamique Recent (3eme siecle BC – 3eme siecle AD). L’etude du materiel archeobotanique issu du site de Mleiha tend a combler ce retard. En effet, le materiel carpologique et anthracologique etudie provient d’un bâtiment incendie au milieu du 3eme de notre ere, soit a la fin du Pre-Islamique Recent (PIR-D), et plus precisement de deux pieces. Les echantillons carpologiques ont permis, par leur composition et en association avec l’ensemble du materiel archeologique, de proposer des hypotheses quant a la fonction des pieces etudiees, l’une en tant que piece de stockage et l’autre en tant que « cuisine ». De plus, la confrontation des donnees carpologiques et anthracologiques semblent mettre en evidence la presence d’une palmeraie a proximite du site. Mais la presence de taxons allochtones, aussi bien carpologiques qu’anthracologiques, souligne l’importance des echanges commercia...
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This paper deals with the diffusion of summer crops and the spice trade in the western part of the Indian Ocean during medieval times. The excavations carried out by Dr. Axelle Rougeulle (CNRS) on the port sites of Sharma (Yemen) and... more
This paper deals with the diffusion of summer crops and the spice trade in the western part of the Indian Ocean during medieval times. The excavations carried out by Dr. Axelle Rougeulle (CNRS) on the port sites of Sharma (Yemen) and Qalhāt (Sultanate of Oman) have provided new archaeobotanical data relating to the presence of exotic plant species. The seed and fruit analysis shows notably the presence of tropical plants such as pepper (Piper nigrum), rice (Oryza sativa), sorghum (Sorghum bicolor), finger millet (Eleusine coracana) and Sawa millet (Echinochloa colona). For the two last species, this discovery constitutes the earliest evidence so far of their presence in the Arabian Peninsula. These results raise issues about the food supply of the inhabitants of harbour sites along the Arabian coasts. Whereas the origin of pepper from the Indian sub-continent is not being questioned, the others species such as rice, sorghum and millets might either have been imported or resulted fro...
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Peu de recherches archeobotaniques ont ete realisees jusqu’a present dans le cadre de l’archeologie islamique. En ce qui concerne la peninsule arabique, moins d’une dizaine de sites ont fait l’objet d’investigations archeobotaniques, la... more
Peu de recherches archeobotaniques ont ete realisees jusqu’a present dans le cadre de l’archeologie islamique. En ce qui concerne la peninsule arabique, moins d’une dizaine de sites ont fait l’objet d’investigations archeobotaniques, la plupart portant sur un nombre limite d’echantillons. C’est pourquoi l’analyse des echantillons issus des fouilles du bâtiment domestique B94 situe a Qalhât (Province Ash-Sharqiyah, Sultanat d’Oman) permet d’enrichir considerablement nos connaissances pour cette periode. Les donnees recueillies donnent la possibilite de nous renseigner, par le biais de la carpologie (etude des graines et des fruits) et de l’anthracologie (etude des charbons de bois) sur differents aspects de leur vie quotidienne. Ainsi, la carpologie permet de determiner les principales composantes de l’alimentation vegetale (cereales, fruitiers…) et son evolution au fil de l’occupation du bâtiment ainsi que le systeme agricole ayant servi a leur mise en culture. Par ailleurs, en plus...
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Until today no anthracological study concerning the Islamic period in the Arabian Peninsula has been published. Recent results from the site of Qalhât in Oman thus provides us with a unique opportunity to get a first glimpse of the... more
Until today no anthracological study concerning the Islamic period in the Arabian Peninsula has been published. Recent results from the site of Qalhât in Oman thus provides us with a unique opportunity to get a first glimpse of the exploitation and use of wood resources by the population of this major harbour city dated from the 14th to the 16th century AD. The analysis of charcoal assemblages from a housing complex (B94) as well as from a craft workshop (B39) shows that different plant communities more or less close to the site were visited for fuel collection. Thus, open thorny woodlands surrounding the site, mainly composed of acacia (Acacia sp.), jujube tree (Ziziphus sp.), prosopis (Prosopis cf. cineraria), capper (Capparis sp.) and Maerua sp. as well as plant communities of saline habitats like tamarisk (Tamarix sp.) have been exploited as fuel resources. Some taxa attested in the assemblages grow today only in more elevated areas in the close al-Hajjar mountains such as Dodon...
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The Antique Period (4th century BC-4th century AD) in the Arabian Peninsula witnessed important trade activities, which can be monitored through the archaeobotanical analyses of oasian agrarian sites. In this presentation , oasis is... more
The Antique Period (4th century BC-4th century AD) in the Arabian Peninsula witnessed important trade activities, which can be monitored through the archaeobotanical analyses of oasian agrarian sites. In this presentation , oasis is considered as a hub connecting local agrarian producers with transport and travelers who brought in and exchanged plant products. Oasis systems are mainly defined by irrigated mixed farming of Near Eastern annual crops (wheat, barley, lentil) and perennial fruit plants (date palm, grapevine, olive, pomegranate). The oasis thus offered an adaptive and durable response to environmental constraints while ensuring economic autonomy. This is especially evident where we can observe crop selections for which innovation processes and resilience dynamics should have been involved. The archaeobotanical dataset, especially with regards to seeds and fruit remains coming from antique sites, shows the presence of new products originating from tropical regions. The rec...
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1. Problematique et bilan des principaux resultats La mission archeologique francaise du desert Oriental a explore entre 2013 et 2016 le district minier de Samut. Elle a fouille la mine d’or de Samut Nord et le fort de Bi’r Samut, tous... more
1. Problematique et bilan des principaux resultats La mission archeologique francaise du desert Oriental a explore entre 2013 et 2016 le district minier de Samut. Elle a fouille la mine d’or de Samut Nord et le fort de Bi’r Samut, tous deux dates de l’epoque ptolemaique, et localises sur l’ancienne route menant d’Edfou au port de Berenice. Lors des campagnes 2017 et 2018, nous avons fouille un deuxieme fortin ptolemaique, localise sur la meme route, pour completer les donnees cruciales mais i...
Derriere le terme vernaculaire « poivre » se cache une multitude de realites. Du point de vue botanique, le poivre designe couramment l’espece Piper nigrum, comprenant par exemple le poivre noir, blanc ou vert. L’archeobotanique, en... more
Derriere le terme vernaculaire « poivre » se cache une multitude de realites. Du point de vue botanique, le poivre designe couramment l’espece Piper nigrum, comprenant par exemple le poivre noir, blanc ou vert. L’archeobotanique, en particulier l’etude des macro-restes vegetaux de graines et fruits, a contribue ces dernieres annees au renouvellement des connaissances sur le commerce du poivre et sa consommation durant l’Antiquite. Les decouvertes de grains de poivre sur les ports romains de Berenice et de Myos Hormos en Egypte ainsi que sur plusieurs sites en Europe permettent d’apprecier d’une part la place de cette epice au sein des echanges entre ocean indien et mer Mediterranee et, d’autre part, le statut social et culturel de ses consommateurs. La mise au jour recente de poivre dans un bâtiment incendie du site de Mleiha (E.A.U) date du 3eme siecle de notre ere invite a s’interroger sur le role et la signification de cette epice sur le site et au sein des echanges entre l’Inde ...
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Increasing evidence of cotton (Gossypium herbaceum/arboreum), both seeds of cotton and textile fragments in cotton, sheds light on the distribution of this tropical plant in the Arabian Peninsula and Africa. Some of these discoveries come... more
Increasing evidence of cotton (Gossypium herbaceum/arboreum), both seeds of cotton and textile fragments in cotton, sheds light on the distribution of this tropical plant in the Arabian Peninsula and Africa. Some of these discoveries come from archaeological contexts dated between the 4th and 2nd mill. BC. They have been interpreted as early importation of textile products from India, where cotton (G. arboreum) is attested since the 6th-5th mill. BC, or early presence of African cotton (G. herbaceum). None of the evidence which exist so far is based on direct dating. The bulk of cotton finds belong to later archaeological layers, from Antique, Late Antique and Islamic times. A set of radiocarbon dating was obtained for cotton seeds and fibres coming from various archaeological contexts. The results show that cotton is definitely present from the end of the 1st century BC onwards in Nubia and Egypt and during the 1st century AD in Central Sudan. In Arabia, one textile fragment dates ...
Cette presentation aura pour but de montrer differentes manieres de conserver les vegetaux a partir du site de Mleiha (Emirats Arabes Unis, 3eme siecle de notre ere), que ce soit par les manieres de stocker (structures, amenagements,... more
Cette presentation aura pour but de montrer differentes manieres de conserver les vegetaux a partir du site de Mleiha (Emirats Arabes Unis, 3eme siecle de notre ere), que ce soit par les manieres de stocker (structures, amenagements, nature des sols, contenants, isolant…) ou le traitement de produits vegetaux (transformation des cereales, sechage de fruits), voir des moyens specifiques de lutter contre les parasites (plantes insecticides, fumigations…). Differents cas de comparaisons seront selectionnes, issus majoritairement du Proche- et du Moyen-Orient.
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La fouille d’un bâtiment incendie a Mleiha (E.A.U.) en 2010 et 2011 date de la fin de la periode Pre-Islamique Recente (3eme siecle de notre ere) a permis la mise au jour de materiel organique carbonise conserve de maniere exceptionnelle... more
La fouille d’un bâtiment incendie a Mleiha (E.A.U.) en 2010 et 2011 date de la fin de la periode Pre-Islamique Recente (3eme siecle de notre ere) a permis la mise au jour de materiel organique carbonise conserve de maniere exceptionnelle (fibres, graines, bois…) appartenant a du coton. Cette decouverte nous donne un eclairage nouveau sur les techniques de mise en œuvre textiles en Arabie durant la periode antique. De plus, la presence simultanee de fibres (travaillees et non travaillees) et de graines de coton nous amene a nous interroger quant au statut du site de Mleiha en tant que possible centre producteur et/ou importateur/exportateur de coton.
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An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via a link at the top of the paper.
Few archaeological sites in the Oman peninsula (eastern Arabia) have so far been studied from an anthracological point of view and this is particularly true for the historical periods (Tengberg 1999, 2002). The recent excavations of a... more
Few archaeological sites in the Oman peninsula (eastern Arabia) have so far been studied from an anthracological point of view and this is particularly true for the historical periods (Tengberg 1999, 2002). The recent excavations of a burnt building at the late Pre-Islamic site of Mleiha in the Emirate of Sharjah (United Arab Emirates) allows us to gain unique knowledge on the wood economy of the inhabitants of the site in the 2nd and 3rd century AD. Carbonised construction elements as well as pieces of a large diversity of wooden objects were retrieved from the excavation and also maybe charcoal resulting from the use of wood as fuel. Consequently, the understanding of construction methods and the choice of wood for these purposes is an issue that can be approached by this material. Moreover, these remains help us to reconstruct the vegetation cover around the site whether of natural or anthropogenic origin. In this aim, the probable cultivation of fruit trees in local date palm ga...
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Cotton (Gossypium sp.), a plant of tropical and sub-tropical origin, appeared at several sites on the Arabian Peninsula at the end of the 1st mill. BCE-beginning of the 1st mill. CE. Its spread into this non-native, arid environment is... more
Cotton (Gossypium sp.), a plant of tropical and sub-tropical origin, appeared at several sites on the Arabian Peninsula at the end of the 1st mill. BCE-beginning of the 1st mill. CE. Its spread into this non-native, arid environment is emblematic of the trade dynamics that took place at this pivotal point in human history. Due to its geographical location, the Arabian Peninsula is connected to both the Indian and African trading spheres, making it complex to reconstruct the trans-continental trajectories of plant diffusion into and across Arabia in Antiquity. Key questions remain pertaining to: (1) provenance, i.e. are plant remains of local or imported origin and (2) the precise timing of cotton arrival and spread. The ancient site of Mleiha, located in modern-day United Arab Emirates, is a rare and significant case where rich archaeobotanical remains dating to the Late Pre-Islamic period (2nd–3rd c. CE), including cotton seeds and fabrics, have been preserved in a burned-down fort...
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Asian rice (Oryza sativa L.) was identified, among other plant remains, from several contexts in a fortified elite residence at the site of Mleiha (United Arab Emirates) that was partially destroyed by fire in the third century AD. These... more
Asian rice (Oryza sativa L.) was identified, among other plant remains, from several contexts in a fortified elite residence at the
site of Mleiha (United Arab Emirates) that was partially destroyed by fire in the third century AD. These remains, present both as
isolated grains and as clusters of rice, constitute the earliest example of the species in the Arabian Peninsula and raise numerous
questions on the role of rice in local economies during the Late Pre-Islamic period. The discussion focuses on two aspects of the
finds. On the one hand, the state of preservation and the archaeological contexts of the rice remains are investigated in detail in
order to reconstruct crop processing activities that might have taken place within the building as well as different aspects of the
preparation and consumption of what seems to have been a rare crop. On the other hand, we discuss the origin of the Mleiha rice
weighing the possible cultivation in local irrigated date palm gardens against its importation through the long-distance trade
networks across the Persian Gulf and the Indian Ocean that are well attested by archaeological and textual sources for the period
of concern.
site of Mleiha (United Arab Emirates) that was partially destroyed by fire in the third century AD. These remains, present both as
isolated grains and as clusters of rice, constitute the earliest example of the species in the Arabian Peninsula and raise numerous
questions on the role of rice in local economies during the Late Pre-Islamic period. The discussion focuses on two aspects of the
finds. On the one hand, the state of preservation and the archaeological contexts of the rice remains are investigated in detail in
order to reconstruct crop processing activities that might have taken place within the building as well as different aspects of the
preparation and consumption of what seems to have been a rare crop. On the other hand, we discuss the origin of the Mleiha rice
weighing the possible cultivation in local irrigated date palm gardens against its importation through the long-distance trade
networks across the Persian Gulf and the Indian Ocean that are well attested by archaeological and textual sources for the period
of concern.
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Research Interests:
Few archaeobotanical studies have been undertaken on Islamic period sites in Eastern Arabia. Excavations conducted by Dr. Axelle Rougeulle (UMR 8167) at Qalhât in the framework of the Qalhât Development Project, have provided the... more
Few archaeobotanical studies have been undertaken on Islamic period sites in Eastern Arabia. Excavations conducted by Dr. Axelle Rougeulle (UMR 8167) at Qalhât in the framework of the Qalhât Development Project, have provided the opportunity to improve our knowledge on plant consumption and supply strategies. Samples from the workshop B39 (14 th -16 th c. AD) excavated in 2014-2015 have provided a substantial amount of seed and fruit remains that are the object of this study. First, the distribution of plant remains within B39 provides us with hints to the use of the different spaces. Thus it is suggested that domestic activities such as food preparation and the cleaning of crops prior to their consumption took place mostly in room E. Then, most of the remains correspond to crops of tropical origin such as Asian rice (Oryza sativa), finger millet (Eleusine coracana ssp. coracana), mung bean (Vigna cf. radiata), mat bean (Vigna cf. aconitifolia), cowpea (Vigna unguiculata) and sesame (Sesamum indicum). Their presence at the site raises the question of their origin, either as imported goods or crops cultivated locally. In the case of an importation, the Indian subcontinent seems to be the most probable centre of origin although other regions, notably Yemen, may also be considered. Further, we discuss the possibility for the introduction of tropical crops into local agrosystems present near the site.
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Cet état des lieux de la recherche archéobotanique en péninsule Arabique recense l’ensemble des études publiées et non publiées en carpologie (graines, fruits et autres éléments végétatifs), anthra- cologie (charbons de bois) et xylologie... more
Cet état des lieux de la recherche archéobotanique en péninsule Arabique recense l’ensemble des études publiées et non publiées en carpologie (graines, fruits et autres éléments végétatifs), anthra-
cologie (charbons de bois) et xylologie (bois secs) réalisées sur des sites archéologiques du Néolithique à la période médiévale. Cette synthèse permet de mettre en avant les dynamiques d’interaction entre les sociétés et le monde végétal, marquées par la multiplicité des ressources alimentaires et combustibles exploitées et l’apport croissant des influences levantines, indiennes et africaines.
This review of the archaeobotanical research in the Arabian Peninsula presents published and unpublished studies based on seeds, fruits and other non-woody remains as well as on anthraco-
logical material (wood charcoal) and desiccated wood realised on archaeological sites dated from the Neolithic to the Medieval period. This overview underlines the interaction dynamics between societies and plants, characterised by the multiplicity of food and fuel resources and the growing interactions with the Levantine, Indian and African spheres.
cologie (charbons de bois) et xylologie (bois secs) réalisées sur des sites archéologiques du Néolithique à la période médiévale. Cette synthèse permet de mettre en avant les dynamiques d’interaction entre les sociétés et le monde végétal, marquées par la multiplicité des ressources alimentaires et combustibles exploitées et l’apport croissant des influences levantines, indiennes et africaines.
This review of the archaeobotanical research in the Arabian Peninsula presents published and unpublished studies based on seeds, fruits and other non-woody remains as well as on anthraco-
logical material (wood charcoal) and desiccated wood realised on archaeological sites dated from the Neolithic to the Medieval period. This overview underlines the interaction dynamics between societies and plants, characterised by the multiplicity of food and fuel resources and the growing interactions with the Levantine, Indian and African spheres.
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Résumé : Le site portuaire médiéval de Qalhât est l’un des plus grands sites archéologiques du Sultanat d’Oman, tant par sa superficie que par son statut, et certainement l’un des plus spectaculaires. Localisée à un emplacement... more
Résumé : Le site portuaire médiéval de Qalhât est l’un des plus grands sites archéologiques du Sultanat d’Oman,
tant par sa superficie que par son statut, et certainement l’un des plus spectaculaires. Localisée à un emplacement
stratégique sur les routes maritimes reliant le sous-continent indien vers la péninsule arabique, cette zone
apparaît comme un observatoire privilégié pour discuter de la provenance des espèces végétales consommées et
de manière générale des différents modes d’approvisionnement des denrées alimentaires durant cette période.
Mais si l’archéologie de terrain fournit des indices de plus en plus importants sur l’organisation et l’importance
de la ville à la période médiévale, Qalhât demeure méconnue du point de vue de ses productions végétales et
des pratiques alimentaires. Pour cette raison, une mission archéobotanique a été mise en place en 2014 permettant
de livrer les premières connaissances sur ces thématiques. Cette étude propose ainsi d’aborder pour la
première fois dans cette région la question des types d’agrosystèmes exploités (palmeraies ?) et de l’origine des
plantes consommées/utilisées, en tenant compte de l’importance du commerce à Qalhât avec le golfe Persique et
le sous-continent indien, voire le sud-est asiatique, comme déjà documenté par les études de céramique.
Abstract : The medieval port city of Qalhât is one of the most important archaeological sites of the Sultanate
of Oman, according to its size and its status, and certainly one of the most spectacular. Strategically situated on
the trade routes between the Indian sub-continent and the Arabian Peninsula, this area appears as a favorable
observatory to discuss the origin of the consumed plants and more generally the different ways of acquiring food
products in this period. Although archaeological fieldwork has provided an increasing body of data regarding
the organization and the importance of the city during the medieval period, Qalhât still remains unknown regarding
its plant products and its dietary habits. For this reason, an archaeobotanical mission was organized in
2014 to yield the first knowledge concerning these subjects. is study proposes to address for the first time in
this region the issue of the type of agricultural systems exploited (date palm gardens ?) and of the origin of the
consumed/cultivated plants, taking into account the importance of trade to Qalhât with the Persian Gulf and the
Indian sub-continent or South-East Asia, as already documented by the study of ceramics.
tant par sa superficie que par son statut, et certainement l’un des plus spectaculaires. Localisée à un emplacement
stratégique sur les routes maritimes reliant le sous-continent indien vers la péninsule arabique, cette zone
apparaît comme un observatoire privilégié pour discuter de la provenance des espèces végétales consommées et
de manière générale des différents modes d’approvisionnement des denrées alimentaires durant cette période.
Mais si l’archéologie de terrain fournit des indices de plus en plus importants sur l’organisation et l’importance
de la ville à la période médiévale, Qalhât demeure méconnue du point de vue de ses productions végétales et
des pratiques alimentaires. Pour cette raison, une mission archéobotanique a été mise en place en 2014 permettant
de livrer les premières connaissances sur ces thématiques. Cette étude propose ainsi d’aborder pour la
première fois dans cette région la question des types d’agrosystèmes exploités (palmeraies ?) et de l’origine des
plantes consommées/utilisées, en tenant compte de l’importance du commerce à Qalhât avec le golfe Persique et
le sous-continent indien, voire le sud-est asiatique, comme déjà documenté par les études de céramique.
Abstract : The medieval port city of Qalhât is one of the most important archaeological sites of the Sultanate
of Oman, according to its size and its status, and certainly one of the most spectacular. Strategically situated on
the trade routes between the Indian sub-continent and the Arabian Peninsula, this area appears as a favorable
observatory to discuss the origin of the consumed plants and more generally the different ways of acquiring food
products in this period. Although archaeological fieldwork has provided an increasing body of data regarding
the organization and the importance of the city during the medieval period, Qalhât still remains unknown regarding
its plant products and its dietary habits. For this reason, an archaeobotanical mission was organized in
2014 to yield the first knowledge concerning these subjects. is study proposes to address for the first time in
this region the issue of the type of agricultural systems exploited (date palm gardens ?) and of the origin of the
consumed/cultivated plants, taking into account the importance of trade to Qalhât with the Persian Gulf and the
Indian sub-continent or South-East Asia, as already documented by the study of ceramics.
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La péninsule Arabique constitue un espace d’échanges et de rencontres au carrefour d’une multitude de routes culturelles alimentaires reliant l’Afrique et l’Asie. En effet, depuis les périodes préhistoriques, l’Arabie représente un lieu... more
La péninsule Arabique constitue un espace d’échanges et de rencontres au carrefour d’une multitude de routes culturelles alimentaires reliant l’Afrique et l’Asie. En effet, depuis les périodes préhistoriques, l’Arabie représente un lieu par lequel plusieurs plantes d’Afrique orientale, du Proche-Orient et du sous-continent Indien ont transité. Le riz asiatique (Oryza sativa) en est un exemple éloquent, comme en témoigne de récentes découvertes archéobotaniques de grains et amas de riz sur plusieurs sites archéologiques d’Arabie orientale et méridionale. Généralement, il est difficile de déterminer si les plantes exotiques correspondent à des produits importés ou si elles ont été cultivées localement. Dans notre cas, plusieurs indices archéologiques associés aux découvertes de riz (mauvaises herbes exogènes, nature portuaire/commerciale des sites archéologiques) argumentent en faveur d’une importation par voie maritime dès l’Antiquité. Si le sous-continent Indien apparaît comme la région d’origine privilégiée du riz asiatique trouvé en Arabie, d’autres sources d’approvisionnement peuvent être envisagées à partir de la période médiévale islamique comme l’Egypte, le Proche-Orient et l’Iran d’après les sources textuelles et d’autres types de matériel archéologique. Les attestations archéobotaniques de riz asiatique soulignent le rôle des différents sites archéologiques au sein des réseaux d’échanges à longue distance, que ce soit comme point de transit, de carrefour des routes commerciales régionales et internationales, ou encore de simple lieu de consommation. La distribution du riz dans la péninsule Arabique implique la participation de plusieurs acteurs, des producteurs étrangers aux consommateurs en passant par les marchands et les navigateurs. En parallèle, des mentions textuelles montrent qu’une acclimatation du riz asiatique dans la péninsule Arabique dès le Moyen-Âge n’est pas à exclure. Des sources ethno-historiques témoignent de la culture du riz au sein de systèmes oasiens durant les XVIIIème-XXème s. ap. J.-C., rapprochant les ainsi les lieux de production et de consommation. Il est pour autant difficile de reconstituer les conditions au sein desquelles le riz a pu être introduit en Arabie (paysans ou commerçants locaux ou étrangers ? initiatives individuelles ou étatiques ?). De nos jours, une variété de riz connue uniquement dans la province orientale de l’Arabie saoudite appelée le riz Hassawi est encore cultivée. Toutefois, le désinvestissement d’une partie de la population et la baisse de la production mettent en danger cette culture originale qui représente une partie du patrimoine agro-alimentaire de la péninsule Arabique.
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L’incendie de la résidence élitaire fortifiée du secteur H sur le site de Mleiha (Sharjah, E.A.U.) a permis la conservation exceptionnelle des restes organiques comme des graines, des fruits, des éléments architecturaux, des objets en... more
L’incendie de la résidence élitaire fortifiée du secteur H sur le site de Mleiha (Sharjah, E.A.U.) a permis la conservation exceptionnelle des restes organiques comme des graines, des fruits, des éléments architecturaux, des objets en bois, des vanneries, des textiles et des résidus organiques amorphes. Les restes carpologiques (graines, fruits, autres éléments reproductifs et végétatifs) et anthracologiques (charbons de bois) donnent l’opportunité d’aborder plusieurs aspects de l’économie végétale d’une société Pré-Islamique Récente (PIR) qui n’était jusqu’alors que très peu documentée. Ainsi, les composants de l’alimentation végétale des habitants et des pratiques culinaires ont pu être observées. Des pratiques agricoles ont pu être déduites grâce à la composition globale de l’assemblage et aux caractéristiques écologiques et physiologiques des plantes adventices. L’état sanitaire des stocks végétaux a pu être évalué avec la prise en compte du matériel archéoentomologique (insectes) et des traces laissées sur les restes archéobotaniques. Enfin, de nombreuses plantes allochtones attestées pour la première fois dans la région ont été identifiées parmi lesquels le poivre, le riz asiatique, le coton, ou encore des bois tropicaux et tempérés. Elles nous renseignent sur la circulation des produits végétaux et démontrent l’intégration de la population de Mleiha aux réseaux d’échange à longue distance du Moyen-Orient et de l’océan Indien.
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The trade of wooden products (beams, objects, containers) within the Indian Ocean during Antiquity is suffering of the lack of data relying in particular on the perishable nature of the wooden material. Although rare, they may be... more
The trade of wooden products (beams, objects, containers) within the Indian Ocean during Antiquity is suffering of the lack of data relying in particular on the perishable nature of the wooden material. Although rare, they may be preserved notably by charring through fire destroying buildings and thus give information about the circulation of exotic woods. The study of the archaeobotanical material from the Late Pre-Islamic building of Mleiha (sector H), burnt down in the 3rd c. CE, revealed the presence of numerous tropical and temperate woody species not attested nowadays in the region. If they have been mostly recovered as shapeless charcoals, their abundance and repartition within the building allow to propose hypothesis about their original functions in support of visible fragments of beams, vessels, boxes and combs. Finally, the today’s repartition of the timber species suggests that they have been brought on site thanks by long-distance trade networks connecting regions as remote as the Indian subcontinent and the northern part of the Middle East.
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Oasian agrobiodiversity in Northwestern Arabia has a long and deep history which reflects adaptation strategies to arid climatic conditions and intense trade activities. New archaeobotanical investigations from two major ancient cities of... more
Oasian agrobiodiversity in Northwestern Arabia has a long and deep history which reflects adaptation strategies to arid climatic conditions and intense trade activities. New archaeobotanical investigations from two major ancient cities of the oasis of Al Ula, namely Dadan and Hegra, and other satellite sites offer a unique opportunity to reconstruct the long-term evolution of the plant economy on more than 3500 years, integrating agro-sylvo-pastoral system and medium- and long-distance trade activities. Our communication aims to present the latest results of the plant macro-remains analyses (seeds & fruits, charcoal) encompassing a large dataset of radiocarbon dating providing new insights into the diachronic evolution of oasian agriculture economies from the end of the Bronze age to the Islamic times (~2500 BCE-1200 CE). We’ll discuss the first evidence for crops that are cereals during the second half of the 3rd mill. BCE, then date palm at the end of the 2nd mill. BCE, and the emergence of several additional cultivated plants in the Late Iron age and Antiquity, with a special focus on fruit trees (Vitis vinifera, Olea europaea, Ficus carica) and cotton (Gossypium sp.). The new data from the Medieval period finally reveals the cultivation of a wide diversity of fruit trees in the oasis, some of them attested for the first time on the Arabian Peninsula. Comparison with the few other botanical data available in Northwestern Arabia for contemporaneous periods (e.g. Tayma and Kilwa) will highlight the common trends and local particularities in order to attempt a first regional overview.
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Agriculture in the Arabian Peninsula becomes established from the early Bronze Age and relies on the cultivation of date palm (Phoenix dactylifera) and annual crops, namely barley (Hordeum vulgare subsp. vulgare, H. vulgare subsp.... more
Agriculture in the Arabian Peninsula becomes established from the early Bronze Age and relies on the cultivation of date palm (Phoenix dactylifera) and annual crops, namely barley (Hordeum vulgare subsp. vulgare, H. vulgare subsp. distichon), emmer wheat (Triticum turgidum subsp. dicoccon), bread wheat (T. aestivum subsp. aestivum) and pea (Pisum sativum). This association of these crops with irrigation systems indicate the presence of oasian agrosystems from that time. Oasis is a resilient and agricultural system allowing the production of multiple crops on a reduced surface thanks to water optimization. It is also a hub connecting local agrarian producers with merchants and travellers through exchanges, particularly dynamic during Historical times (1st millennium CE), which can be highlighted through archaeobotanical data. Therefore, we’ll focus on recent archaeobotanical finds from Antique and Medieval sites showing that ancient oases were ecological and economic niches hosting new crops mostly originated from tropical regions, such as rice (Oryza sativa), sorghum (Sorghum bicolor ssp. bicolor) and cotton (Gossypium sp.). Their introduction should have led to major changes within the spatial, calendar and labour organizations of these pre-existent agricultural systems as well as the transfer and development of new know-hows. This contribution aims to describe some of these new plants and their chronology, to discuss their potential introduction into local agricultural systems and to examine the associated economic, ecological and technical components.
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The exact nature of the agricultural phenomenon in the Muslim world known commonly as “Green Islamic Revolution” that has been theorized by Watson (1983) for the first centuries of Islam has been the subject of much debate. Recent textual... more
The exact nature of the agricultural phenomenon in the Muslim world known commonly as “Green Islamic Revolution” that has been theorized by Watson (1983) for the first centuries of Islam has been the subject of much debate. Recent textual and archaeobotanical studies tend to nuance this hypothesis and to define specific history for each “new” crop and differences between several regions (Ruas et al., 2015; Decker, 2009). This agricultural evolution is much more difficult to understand in peripherical areas which may be less documented by historical tradition than politic centres (Near East, Egypt). This is particularly the case for eastern Arabia, corresponding to the terrestrial band stretching from Kuwait to Oman and bordering the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman. Indeed, written documents which could give information about the “agricultural revolution” of the beginning of Islam (e.g., Ibadi manuscripts) are little available and still under-exploited. Macro-botanical remains (seeds & fruits, charcoals, dry woods) found in archaeological sites are able to define in what this phenomenon consisted in reality: can we observe the arrival of new crops attested in archaeobotanical assemblages compare to Antiquity? If this case, what crops are documented? From where are they originated? For what purpose have they been introduced? What consequences should have they on agropastoral systems?
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The trade of plant products in the Persian Gulf and the Arabian Sea during the Islamic period has been the subject of much debate. Until lately, the main sources available for these research issues were the textual references while... more
The trade of plant products in the Persian Gulf and the Arabian Sea during the Islamic period has been the subject of much debate. Until lately, the main sources available for these research issues were the textual references while archaeobotanical analyses have recently brought to light new data for this period. Indeed, botanical material from harbor cities and coastal settlements situated in eastern Arabia has shown the presence of exotic crops, most of them identified for the first time in this region, such as pepper (Piper nigrum), rice (Oryza sativa), sorghum (Sorghum bicolor ssp. bicolor) and finger millet (Eleusine coracana ssp. coracana). Their attestation in coastal sites makes likely their importation as trade products although, for some crops, acclimatization within the oasian agricultural systems has to be considered.
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L’archéobotanique, en particulier l’étude des macro-restes végétaux de graines et fruits, a contribué ces dernières années au renouvellement des connaissances sur le commerce du poivre et sa consommation durant l’Antiquité. Les... more
L’archéobotanique, en particulier l’étude des macro-restes végétaux de graines et fruits, a contribué ces dernières années au renouvellement des connaissances sur le commerce du poivre et sa consommation durant l’Antiquité. Les découvertes de grains de poivre sur les ports romains de Bérénice et de Myos Hormos en Egypte ainsi que sur plusieurs sites en Europe permettent d’apprécier d’une part la place de cette épice au sein des échanges entre océan Indien et mer Méditerranée et, d’autre part, le statut social et culturel de ses consommateurs. La mise au jour récente de poivre dans un bâtiment incendié du site de Mleiha (E.A.U) daté du 3ème siècle de notre ère invite à s’interroger sur le rôle et la signification de cette épice sur le site et au sein des échanges entre l’Inde et l’Arabie orientale. Des expérimentations de carbonisation de différents poivres modernes ont été entreprises afin de définir des critères d’identification permettant une meilleure caractérisation du matériel archéologique retrouvé.
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The Antique Period (4th century BCE - 4th century CE) in the Arabian Peninsula witnessed important trade activities, which can be monitored through the archaeobotanical analyses of oasian agrarian sites. In this presentation, oasis is... more
The Antique Period (4th century BCE - 4th century CE) in the Arabian Peninsula witnessed important trade activities, which can be monitored through the archaeobotanical analyses of oasian agrarian sites. In this presentation, oasis is considered as a hub connecting local agrarian producers with transport and travelers who brought in and exchanged plant products. Oasis systems are mainly defined by irrigated mixed farming of Near Eastern annual crops (wheat, barley, lentil) and perennial fruit plants (date palm, grapevine, olive, pomegranate). The oasis thus offered an adaptive and durable response to environmental constraints while ensuring economic autonomy. This is especially evident where we can observe crop selections for which innovation processes and resilience dynamics should have been involved. The archaeobotanical dataset, especially with regards to seeds and fruit remains coming from antique sites, shows the presence of new products originating from tropical regions, such as black pepper, cotton, and rice. The record shows that some of these plants were gradually integrated into the oases systems. Based on the archaeobotanical results from Madâ’in Sâlih, the antique Nabataean Hegra (northwestern Saudi Arabia) and Mleiha (U.A.E.), two sites linked with important ancient trade routes, this contribution aims to describe these new plant products and their chronology, to discuss their potential acclimatization and to examine the associated economic, ecological and technical components.
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This paper deals with the diffusion of summer crops and the spice trade in the western part of the Indian Ocean during medieval times. The excavations carried out by Dr. Axelle Rougeulle (CNRS) on the port sites of Sharma (Yemen) and... more
This paper deals with the diffusion of summer crops and the spice trade in the western part of the Indian Ocean during medieval times. The excavations carried out by Dr. Axelle Rougeulle (CNRS) on the port sites of Sharma (Yemen) and Qalhāt (Sultanate of Oman) have provided new archaeobotanical data relating to the presence of exotic plant species. The seed and fruit analysis shows notably the presence of tropical plants such as rice (Oryza sativa) and sorghum (Sorghum bicolor ssp. bicolor). Some discovery constitutes the earliest evidence so far of their presence in the Arabian Peninsula.
These results raise issues about the food supply of the inhabitants of harbour sites along the Arabian coasts. Whereas the origin of some of them from the Indian sub-continent is not being questioned, the others species might either have been imported or resulted from local cultivation. In this matter, written sources are used in order to discuss their significance and their possible origin.
These results raise issues about the food supply of the inhabitants of harbour sites along the Arabian coasts. Whereas the origin of some of them from the Indian sub-continent is not being questioned, the others species might either have been imported or resulted from local cultivation. In this matter, written sources are used in order to discuss their significance and their possible origin.
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Few archaeological sites in the Oman peninsula (eastern Arabia) have so far been studied from an anthracological point of view and this is particularly true for the historical periods. The recent excavations of a burnt building at the... more
Few archaeological sites in the Oman peninsula (eastern Arabia) have so far been studied from an anthracological point of view and this is particularly true for the historical periods. The recent excavations of a burnt building at the late Pre-Islamic site of Mleiha in the Emirate of Sharjah (United Arab Emirates) allows us to gain unique knowledge on the wood economy of the inhabitants of the site in the 2nd and 3rd century AD. Carbonised construction elements as well as pieces of a large diversity of wooden objects were retrieved from the excavation and also maybe charcoal resulting from the use of wood as fuel. Consequently, the understanding of construction methods and the choice of wood for these purposes is an issue that can be approached by this material. Moreover, these remains help us to reconstruct the vegetation cover around the site whether of natural or anthropogenic origin. Finally, at this site, where the archaeological finds point to the involvement in long-distance trade, in particular with Iran, Mesopotamia and India, the question of the importation of wood is of particular interest and we will consider the possible origin of non-indigenous temperate taxa.
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Cette présentation aura pour but de montrer différentes manières de conserver les végétaux à partir du site de Mleiha (Emirats Arabes Unis, 3ème siècle de notre ère), que ce soit par les manières de stocker (structures, aménagements,... more
Cette présentation aura pour but de montrer différentes manières de conserver les végétaux à partir du site de Mleiha (Emirats Arabes Unis, 3ème siècle de notre ère), que ce soit par les manières de stocker (structures, aménagements, nature des sols, contenants, isolant…) ou le traitement de produits végétaux (transformation des céréales, séchage de fruits), voir des moyens spécifiques de lutter contre les parasites (plantes insecticides, fumigations…). Différents cas de comparaisons seront sélectionnés, issus majoritairement du Proche- et du Moyen-Orient.
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Des recherches archéobotaniques récentes menées en Arabie orientale et méridionale sur des sites littoraux de période islamique a permis de mettre en évidence la présence d’éleusine (Eleusine coracana ssp. coracana). L’éleusine est une... more
Des recherches archéobotaniques récentes menées en Arabie orientale et méridionale sur des sites littoraux de période islamique a permis de mettre en évidence la présence d’éleusine (Eleusine coracana ssp. coracana). L’éleusine est une céréale considérée comme un millet dont l’ancêtre sauvage a été identifiée comme E. coracana ssp. africana grâce à des études morphologiques, cytologiques et biogéographiques. Sa distribution géographique suggère qu’il aurait été domestiqué dans les hauts-plateaux d’Afrique orientale (Hilu et Johnson 1992, De Wet et al 1984, Hilu et de Wet 1976). D’après les données archéobotaniques, il a été introduit dans le sous-continent Indien dès le 2ème millénaire av. J.-C. (Boivin et al 2014, Fuller 2003). Son identification peut être assez aisée grâce à une morphologie à la fois globulaire et angulaire, la disposition adjacente du hile circulaire par rapport au scutellum ainsi que l’ornementation pictée de son péricarpe très caractéristique (Fuller 2017). Dans la péninsule Arabique, l’éleusine a été identifiée au sein des assemblages carpologiques de plusieurs sites médiévaux. Il est possible de considérer les grains d’éleusine comme un produit importé étant donné la nature littorale et/ou portuaire des différents sites sur lesquels il a été identifié. Parfois, sa présence continue sur les sites et/ou sa prédominance laisse penser qu’il aurait pu être acclimaté à l’échelle régionale. Il possède des avantages agronomiques et alimentaires qui auraient pu favoriser son introduction en Arabie orientale comme son système racinaire, sa capacité à injecter de l’azote dans le sol, sa résistance aux ravageurs ou son utilisation fourragère (Husson et al 2013, Sivakumar et al 2006, Jansen et Ong 1996). Néanmoins, la position stratégique des sites archéologiques au sein des réseaux d’échanges à longue distance de l’océan Indien ne permet pas d’affirmer avec certitude qu’il s’agit d’acclimatations au détriment d’importations.
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Second Ḥajar Workshop ONLINE
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