The reconstruction of agricultural practices in Ancient Egypt: an ethnoarchaeobotanical approach

Abstract

Archaeobotanical research which is aimed at the reconstruction of former agricultural practices is based mainly on the interpretation of samples from domestic areas. This is rather problematic, as it implies that onsite information is used for off-site interpretations. To solve this problem, the reconstruction of agricultural practices is based on ethnographic research and experimental archaeology. However, the selection of suitable archaeobotanical samples has received little attention in both these approaches.

In this article, a model is presented for the reconstruction of cereal cultivation in ancient Egypt with special emphasis on the linkage of the vegetation outside the settlement (off-site vegetation) with the selection of archaeological features within a settlement (on-site sampling). The model is based on 'judgement sampling' of specific contexts, taking account of the stratified occurence of weed plants in cereal fields and of the processes by which plant parts are transported from fields to settlements. In the context of the unique system of exploitation of the fertile soil in ancient Egypt, in which flooding, harvesting methods and grazing of fields play an important role, it is shown that a reconstruction of agricultural practices can be based on the analysis of food stocks and identifiable plant remains in, specifically, building materials and ash layers.

The model is illustrated with the botanical analysis of samples from the Roman settlement Medinet Watfa (Fayum) and of modern samples of grains and accompanying threshing remains (stalks, chaff, rachis fragments and remains of weed plants).