Legumes in antiquity : a micromorphological investigation of seeds of the Vicieae
Early evidence for the importance of legumes in nutrition is limited by difficulties in the identification and interpretation of pulse remains from archaeological contexts. The main aims of this work are to seek in a detailed survey of legume seed micromorphology, criteria that can be used i) for the identification of species and, ii) as evidence of cultivation. Assessment of the role of SEM in archaeobotany is a supplementary aim. Archaeological evidence of pulses in the Old World is first reviewed, followed by the rationale for the selection of members of the tribe Vicieae as the species researched. The second part of the thesis is a background study of the Vicieae and its four major genera Vicia, Lathyrus, Lens and Pisum. Brief accounts of their taxonomy, seed morphology and geographical distribution are followed by an examination of traditional Old World systems of pulse agronomy. Chapter three concerns the material and methods of research. The results are described qualitatively in chapter four, and following multivariate analysis in chapters five and six. The seventh chapter describes some miscellaneous procedures. The eighth chapter is a discussion of the results. Identifications down to species level
Butler, Elizabeth Ann
Plant seeds; Archaeobotany
Legumes in antiquity : a micromorphological investigation of seeds of the Vicieae. Early evidence for the importance of legumes in nutrition is limited by difficulties in the identification and interpretation of pulse remains from archaeological contexts. The main aims of this work are to seek in a detailed survey of legume seed micromorphology, criteria that can be used i) for the identification of species and, ii) as evidence of cultivation. Assessment of the role of SEM in archaeobotany is a supplementary aim. Archaeological evidence of pulses in the Old World is first reviewed, followed by the rationale for the selection of members of the tribe Vicieae as the species researched. The second part of the thesis is a background study of the Vicieae and its four major genera Vicia, Lathyrus, Lens and Pisum. Brief accounts of their taxonomy, seed morphology and geographical distribution are followed by an examination of traditional Old World systems of pulse agronomy. Chapter three concerns the material and methods of research. The results are described qualitatively in chapter four, and following multivariate analysis in chapters five and six. The seventh chapter describes some miscellaneous procedures. The eighth chapter is a discussion of the results. Identifications down to species level
antiquity micromorphological investigation seed early_evidence importance nutrition limit difficulty identification_interpretation pulse remain archaeological_context main_aim work seek detail_survey seed micromorphology criterion_use identification specie evidence cultivation assessment role sem archaeobotany supplementary aim archaeological_evidence pulse old world first review follow rationale selection member tribe specie research second_part background study four_major genus lens brief_account taxonomy seed morphology geographical_distribution follow_examination traditional old world system pulse concern material method research describe qualitatively follow multivariate_analysis five_six seventh describe miscellaneous procedure eighth discussion result specie level