Plant macroremains from an early Neolithic site
in eastern Kuyavia, central Poland
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1 |
W. Szafer Institute of Botany Polish Academy of Sciences, Lubicz 46, 31-512 Kraków, Poland |
2 |
Department of Geomorphology and Palaeogeography, Faculty of Geographical Sciences, University of Łódź,
Narutowicza 88, 90-139 Łódź, Poland |
3 |
Archaeological and Ethnographical Museum in Łódź, Plac Wolności 14, 91-415 Łódź, Poland |
4 |
Institute of Archaeology, University of Rzeszów, Moniuszki 10, 35-015 Rzeszów, Poland |
Online publication date: 2016-06-22
Publication date: 2016-06-22
Acta Palaeobotanica 2016; 56(1): 79–89
ABSTRACT
The study examined plant remains from the Smólsk 2/10 site, situated on the border of two different
landscapes and preserving traces of Neolithic occupation from several cultures: Early Linear Pottery culture
(LBK, ca 5300–5200 cal. BC to ca 5000 cal. BC), Stroke Band Pottery culture (SBP, ca 4700–4400 cal. BC), the
Brześć Kujawski group of Lengyel culture (BKG, ca 4500–4000/3900 cal. BC), Funnel Beaker culture (TRB, ca
3950–3380 BC), and also some features of the Lusatian culture (Hallstatt C, ca 970–790 cal. BC).
Mostly hulled wheat remains (Triticum monococcum, T. dicoccum) were found in the LBK, SBP, and BKG
cultures; they were completely absent in younger cultures (TRB, Lusatian), where barley remains appeared.
Among other plants the most numerous were remains of small-grain grasses (mostly cf. Hierochloë type), feather
grass (Stipa sp.), wild buckwheat (Fallopia convolvulus), and goosefoot (Chenopodium album type), but the plant
remains are relatively scarce.
The archaeobotanical data obtained from the site supplement data from neighbouring Osłonki to the west and
Wolica Nowa to the north-west. The differences between those microregions are reflected mostly in the earlier appearance
of feather grass (Stipa sp.) in the Smólsk area as well as the higher quantity of crop chaff remains in the Osłonki
area, but their random occurrence, along with the fragmentariness of the archaeological data, must be taken into
account. However, intentional introduction of feather grass by the first Neolithic settlers in eastern Kuyavia cannot be
excluded. The relatively high proportion of small-grain grasses, usually interpreted as traces of fodder, together with
the scarcity of crop remains at the Wolica Nowa site, suggests that the site was connected more with animal husbandry
than with agriculture. On the other hand, the small-grain grasses at Smólsk are represented mainly by a large number
of non-weedy grass (cf. Hierochloë type) grains from the crop sample, which cannot be explained in a simple way.
A comparison of the anthracological data from the Osłonki and Smólsk microregions reveals differences
in woodland management and differences between the local environments. Pine wood was more accessible at
Smólsk than at Osłonki, due to local landscape characteristics.