Preliminary analysis of plant macrofossils
from an Early Iron Age structure in Kærbøl,
Denmark, with special emphasis on segetal
and ruderal weeds
1
Institute of Archaeology and Ethnology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Al. Solidarności 105, 00-140 Warszawa,
Poland
2
Moesgaard Museum, Moesgård Allé 15, 8270 Højbjerg, Denmark
Online publication date: 2017-06-15
Publication date: 2017-06-15
Acta Palaeobotanica 2017; 57(1): 109–118
ABSTRACT
The paper presents results from an archaeobotanical analysis of samples from an Early Iron Age
building in Kærbøl, Denmark, and brings to light an interesting correlation between crops and weeds which most
probably characterised the majority of Early Iron Age societies in Denmark. It is suggested that the weed species
were the primary plants stored for various reasons and that the crops only accompanied them. The authors
discuss the plausibility of interpreting weed species as food plants during the Danish Iron Age, and the possible
function of the sampled structure.
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