Over the centuries: Long-term crop selection and diversity at Freixo/Tongobriga (Northwest Iberia)

Freixo/Tongobriga (Marco de Canaveses, Northwest Portugal) is an archaeological site placed on a vast hill, close to the Tâmega and Douro rivers. It was an important Roman city, well-known for its monumental buildings (e.g. Forum, Baths). Nonetheless, excavations have shown that the area was occupied for a longer time span. In this paper, archaeobotanical results from two areas will be addressed - Wall and Housing Complex I – comprising three contexts – Wall South Section, Impluvium house and Round hut. These encompass a wide time period ranging from the Iron Age to the Late Antiquity. Results from the fruits and seeds analyses showed an assemblage dominated by cereals. The grains of broomcorn millet (Panicum miliaceum), and foxtail millet (Setaria italica) were predominant, followed by spelt (Triticum spelta). Hulled barley (Hordeum vulgare), naked wheat (Triticum aestivum/durum), rye (Secale cereale) and oat (Avena sp.) were scarce. A diverse set of fruits was collected, although in small amounts. The analysis of new and previous archaeobotanical assemblages in connection with other archaeological information and several radiocarbon determinations provided crucial information about crop selection and diversity at Freixo/Tongobriga through time.

Archaeobotany. Agriculture. Crops.