The agricultural economy and practice of an Egyptian late antique monastery : an archaeobotanical case study
This thesis explores the extent to which archaeobotany can contribute to the largely historically-based discussion of the role monasteries played in the Late Antique (4th - 7th centuries AD) agricultural economy in Egypt. The archaeobotanical assemblage collected from the excavations of a Late Antique monastery at Kom el-Nana, Middle Egypt (AD 400 - 750) is used for this purpose. The methodology employed in the field, laboratory and statistical analysis of this assemblage follows that already established in northern Europe. The possible uses of the economic and weed/wild plants recovered are fully discussed. By-products of crop processing or food production are abundant in these samples, suggesting that they are also of economic value at this site, most likely as fodder, fuel or temper. This result was confirmed by a study of the weed/wild taxa which showed that samples had evidence for a low harvesting height, indicating the intentional collection of plant stalks during harvests. A wide range of economic plants, including many condiments, were recovered at Kom el-Nana suggesting a more varied monastic diet than indicated by historical records. The use of multivariate statistical analysis establishes that
Smith, Katharine Wendy McLaughlin
The agricultural economy and practice of an Egyptian late antique monastery : an archaeobotanical case study. This thesis explores the extent to which archaeobotany can contribute to the largely historically-based discussion of the role monasteries played in the Late Antique (4th - 7th centuries AD) agricultural economy in Egypt. The archaeobotanical assemblage collected from the excavations of a Late Antique monastery at Kom el-Nana, Middle Egypt (AD 400 - 750) is used for this purpose. The methodology employed in the field, laboratory and statistical analysis of this assemblage follows that already established in northern Europe. The possible uses of the economic and weed/wild plants recovered are fully discussed. By-products of crop processing or food production are abundant in these samples, suggesting that they are also of economic value at this site, most likely as fodder, fuel or temper. This result was confirmed by a study of the weed/wild taxa which showed that samples had evidence for a low harvesting height, indicating the intentional collection of plant stalks during harvests. A wide range of economic plants, including many condiments, were recovered at Kom el-Nana suggesting a more varied monastic diet than indicated by historical records. The use of multivariate statistical analysis establishes that
agricultural_economy practice egyptian late_antique monastery archaeobotanical case_study explores_extent archaeobotany contribute largely historically based discussion role monastery play late_antique agricultural_economy egypt archaeobotanical assemblage collect excavation late_antique monastery middle egypt use purpose employed field laboratory statistical_analysis assemblage follow already_establish northern_europe possible economic weed wild plant recover fully discuss crop_processing food_production abundant sample suggest also economic value site likely fodder fuel temper confirm study weed wild taxon show sample evidence low height indicate intentional collection plant harvest wide_range economic plant include many recover suggest varied monastic diet indicate historical_record use multivariate_statistical analysis establishes