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Several hundred archaeobotanical studies now provide a broad overview of plant husbandry practices in northern France from the Bronze Age to the medieval period. Some unknowns nevertheless remain concerning the species considered as possible minor crops. They often have an ambiguous status, which deserves a closer examination in order to specify their possible cultivation and uses. This is the case of Bromus secalinus (rye brome), a wild member of the Poaceae, which was potentially used as food and fodder, and whose consumption has been suggested by several authors based on the regular discovery of mass finds of its seeds in domestic contexts and assemblages including cultivated plants. Rye brome has then been considered as a "near-crop". Could the re-examination of brome grass rich assemblages and processed crops of cereal grains help us to clarify the status of the plant? On the basis of the macrofossil results from 338 occupations in northern France dated from 1325 bc to ad 1500 and the comparison of archaeological finds with ancient texts, we try to discover what the uses of this plant may have been and how its perception may have evolved over time. The discovery of possible seed cake fragments made of brome grass in two rural settlements represents a hint for its potential consumption during the Iron Age. However a careful examination of the frequencies of rye brome over the time span shows that abundant finds are ultimately rather few and mainly clustered before the 2nd century bc, when a major change in crop choices happened. This led to a change in the processing of cereals and the form in which they were brought back to the sites. Abundant rye brome finds appear to be linked to the persistence of hulled cereals and the processing techniques that were specifically applied to them. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

New plant macrofossil studies in northwestern France enable a better insight into agriculture through the Bronze and Iron Age. Most of the previous analyses, carried out in Calvados (Normandy) on Late Iron Age dwellings, suggested distinctive characteristics such as the increase of Avena (oat) and the abundance of pulses in storage pits. The collection of a new database with 25 sites was done in response to the previous lack of studies, which became an issue in Brittany, Normandy and the Loire region, which are known for their western location and trade links throughout Europe. This paper deals with farming practices and their changes during the Bronze and Iron Ages. The aim was to gather new evidence related to sowing times, tilling of fields and fertility management of soils in order to discuss extensive or intensive cultivation in northwestern France. The crop cultivation techniques were investigated by studying the weed flora composition according to the FIBS approach (Functional interpretation of botanical survey). The results reveal combinations of evidence and a pattern of intra-regional diversity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Macroscopic charred remains of Spinacia oleracea L. (Amaranthaceae) have been found in the Pyrenean village of Montaillou, France, in several contexts of a house dated to the end 12th-mid 13th century a.d. This is the first archaeobotanical record of this vegetable in France and the earliest European archaeobotanical material so far found. The paper presents the morphological criteria used for identifying the charred remains of the species. After a review of archaeobotanical finds in Europe, hypotheses on the economic status of this vegetable, which is unknown as a wild plant in Europe, are discussed with reference to medieval written and illuminated sources and to archaeological deposits. It appears that Spinacia was first introduced into France from Moorish Spain where it was cultivated at least since the 11th century. The French evidence of Spinacia thus represents a milestone in the history and geographic diffusion of this vegetable into temperate Europe. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A study of plant remains from seven archaeological wells at Mas de Vignoles IX, near Nîmes, southern France, was used to shed light on a current gap in the archaeological record caused by erosion and modern agriculture. The analysis also explored the reliability of these sources for palaeoenvironmental and palaeoeconomical information. Significant results on the spatial organization of human habitation, economic activities, and on the environment and its exploitation were obtained for the Middle Neolithic to Roman periods. Furthermore, the Neolithic wells also provided the first early finds of fig seeds in France. The abundance of weed and ruderal plants up to the Iron Age is consistent with data from other studies and their dramatic decrease during the Roman period may have resulted from radical changes in land management. The study marks the first time, in southern France, that a group of wells from a single site have provided a complete record throughout the later prehistoric and Roman periods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract  Excavations and sampling conducted at the ancient city of Lattara (Lattes, France) have revealed a foundation offering in a small pit situated in a storehouse in the Roman port of the city. This offering, dated to around a.d. 25–60, consisted of pottery vessels, oil lamps, a coin, a pin (made out of bone), an egg and several plant products. The archaeobotanical remains presented in this work are charred seeds, fruits and charcoal. The primary aim of this study is to analyse whether the plant taxa are unusual or the same ones that appear in the contemporary domestic contexts in the city, in order to assess the possibility of a special use of the plants related to, for instance, their symbolic or magical value. The discovery of domestic or public burnt offerings containing plant remains is unknown in the Mediterranean region of France during the Roman period, except for those found in funerary contexts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]