An archaeobotanical analysis of Silchester and the wider region across the late Iron Age-Roman transition
The separation of agricultural practice from urban communities has long been understood as a key defining feature of urban societies. This thesis investigates the relationship between developments in agriculture and urbanisation in Late Iron Age and Roman Britain. The Late Iron Age period saw the rise of oppida, characterised by extensive dyke systems, the presence of elites and imported material culture. Three models of the agricultural basis of oppida are currently available: agricultural innovations, surplus production, and non-arable settlements. These three models have been evaluated through three methods: the analysis of charred, waterlogged and mineralised plant remains from Silchester, an oppidum and civitas capital in southern Britain; the quantitative analysis of secondary archaeobotanical data from the regional area of the Hampshire Downs and the Thames Valley; and the synthesis of archaeobotanical evidence for food and agriculture at oppida and Roman towns in Britain. Key findings are that spelt wheat and barley were cultivated at Late Iron Age Silchester in combination with a new crop (flax), new management techniques (hay meadows) and the consumption of new plant foods (olives, celery and coriander).
Lodwick, Lisa A.
Archeology ; Roman archeology ; Archaeobotany; Agriculture ; Iron Age Britain ; Roman Britain
An archaeobotanical analysis of Silchester and the wider region across the late Iron Age-Roman transition. The separation of agricultural practice from urban communities has long been understood as a key defining feature of urban societies. This thesis investigates the relationship between developments in agriculture and urbanisation in Late Iron Age and Roman Britain. The Late Iron Age period saw the rise of oppida, characterised by extensive dyke systems, the presence of elites and imported material culture. Three models of the agricultural basis of oppida are currently available: agricultural innovations, surplus production, and non-arable settlements. These three models have been evaluated through three methods: the analysis of charred, waterlogged and mineralised plant remains from Silchester, an oppidum and civitas capital in southern Britain; the quantitative analysis of secondary archaeobotanical data from the regional area of the Hampshire Downs and the Thames Valley; and the synthesis of archaeobotanical evidence for food and agriculture at oppida and Roman towns in Britain. Key findings are that spelt wheat and barley were cultivated at Late Iron Age Silchester in combination with a new crop (flax), new management techniques (hay meadows) and the consumption of new plant foods (olives, celery and coriander).
archaeobotanical_analysis wider_region across transition separation agricultural_practice urban_community long understood key define_feature urban_society investigates_relationship development agriculture urbanisation roman_britain saw rise oppida characterise extensive system presence elite import material_culture three_model agricultural basis oppida currently available agricultural innovation surplus production non arable settlement three_model evaluate method analysis char waterlogged plant_remain civitas capital southern_britain quantitative_analysis secondary archaeobotanical_data regional area hampshire thames_valley synthesis archaeobotanical_evidence food agriculture oppida roman towns britain key_finding spell wheat barley cultivate combination new_crop new management technique hay consumption new plant_food