Plant supplying strategies in an Islamic Omani harbor city: archaeobotanical analysis from a workshop (B39) in Qalhât (XIVth-XVIth c. AD)

Few archaeobotanical studies have been undertaken on Islamic period sites in eastern Arabia. Excavations conducted by Dr. Axelle Rougeulle (UMR 8167) at Qalh?t in the framework of the Qalh?t Project, have provided the opportunity to improve our knowledge on plant consumption and supply strategies. Samples from the workshop B39 (14th-16th century 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 some domestic activities such as food preparation and the cleaning of crops prior to their consumption took place in room E. 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.