INSTAP Academic Press (Institute for Aegean Prehistory) eBooks, 2002
It is a general discussion on the diet and environment as seen from the bioarchaeological remains... more It is a general discussion on the diet and environment as seen from the bioarchaeological remains from Palaikastro, East Crete.
The Annual of the British School at Athens, Nov 1, 1990
Types of pulse cultivated for human consumption in present-day Thera (and adjacent islands) and a... more Types of pulse cultivated for human consumption in present-day Thera (and adjacent islands) and archaeobotanical material from Akrotiri are identified. It is suggested that they are both the same variety, not identified elsewhere as used for human consumption, suggesting it is particularly suited to the local environment.
Vicia articulate Horne. a not highly domesticated legume, which is used as green manure, fodder a... more Vicia articulate Horne. a not highly domesticated legume, which is used as green manure, fodder and, in times of stress, as food, is in the process of extinction. Although it was mentioned as cultivated up to the 1950s in many parts of Greece, lately, the only area, which is known to still cultivate it, is on the Cycladic island of Santorini, Thera, and referred to as 'lentil'. The aim of this paper is threefold: a) to intercept its extinction, as it is an excellent plant for green manuring and fodder and enriches, the soil with nutrients and humidity, under arid conditions. Its importance in agriculture and husbandry needs to be redressed. It produces even under ≤ 300 mm of rain, which is of utmost importance in times of Climate Change. B) to draw the attention of archaeobotanists to pay more attention in identifying lentil-type legumes in the archaeological contexts, and widen our knowledge on the legumes cultivated in the past, as well as build their biographies regarding their domestication trajectories and use. C) Call for the attention of ethnobotanists, archaeobotanists and farmers to cooperate, protect and promote traditional systems of agriculture, which are more sustainable, in arid environments.
The study of archaeobotanical remains from the Neopalatial settlement on the coast of Mochlos: Th... more The study of archaeobotanical remains from the Neopalatial settlement on the coast of Mochlos: The Artisans' Quarter and the farmhouse at Chalinomouri.
Excavations at Knossos have uncovered faunal and archaeobotanical archives spanning the Neolithic... more Excavations at Knossos have uncovered faunal and archaeobotanical archives spanning the Neolithic and Bronze Age (7th–2nd millennia bce), during which one of Europe’s earliest known farming settlements developed into its first major urban settlement and centre of one of its oldest regional states. Through stable isotope (δ13C, δ15N) analysis of seeds and bones (as evidence for the growing conditions of cereal and pulse crops and for the types of forage consumed by livestock), land use and, ultimately, political economy are explored. Changing husbandry conditions overwrite any effects of long-term aridification. Early (7th–6th millennium bce) Knossian farmers grew intensively managed cereals and pulses (probably in rotation) that were closely integrated (as manured sources of forage) with livestock. Through the later Neolithic and Bronze Age, settlement growth accompanied more extensive cultivation (eventually with cereals and pulses not in rotation) and greater use of rough graze an...
Agricultural extensification refers to an expansive, lowinput production strategy that is land ra... more Agricultural extensification refers to an expansive, lowinput production strategy that is land rather than labour limited. Here, we present a robust method, using the archaeological proxies of cereal grain nitrogen isotope values and settlement size, to investigate the relationship between agricultural intensity and population size at Neolithic to Bronze/Iron Age settlement sites in northern Mesopotamia, the Aegean and southwest Germany. We conclude that urban form-in particular, density of occupation-as well as scale shaped the agroecological trajectories of early cities. Whereas high-density urbanism in northern Mesopotamia and the Aegean entailed radical agricultural extensification, lower density urbanism in southwest Germany afforded more intensive management of arable land. We relate these differing agricultural trajectories to long-term urban growth/collapse cycles in northern Mesopotamia and the Aegean, on the one hand, and to the volatility of early Iron Age elite power structures and urban centralization in southwest Germany, on the other.
Agricultural extensification refers to an expansive, lowinput production strategy that is land ra... more Agricultural extensification refers to an expansive, lowinput production strategy that is land rather than labour limited. Here, we present a robust method, using the archaeological proxies of cereal grain nitrogen isotope values and settlement size, to investigate the relationship between agricultural intensity and population size at Neolithic to Bronze/Iron Age settlement sites in northern Mesopotamia, the Aegean and southwest Germany. We conclude that urban form-in particular, density of occupation-as well as scale shaped the agroecological trajectories of early cities. Whereas high-density urbanism in northern Mesopotamia and the Aegean entailed radical agricultural extensification, lower density urbanism in southwest Germany afforded more intensive management of arable land. We relate these differing agricultural trajectories to long-term urban growth/collapse cycles in northern Mesopotamia and the Aegean, on the one hand, and to the volatility of early Iron Age elite power structures and urban centralization in southwest Germany, on the other.
Area of origin (Zohary 1973) in Arabian peninsula and the African Horn (Somalia) as Ceratonia ore... more Area of origin (Zohary 1973) in Arabian peninsula and the African Horn (Somalia) as Ceratonia oreothauma, an uncultivated species Average production of tree is c. 20 kilos and can reach 70 kilos Pulp consists of 90% and seeds 10%. Pyrgouthi in the Berbati Valley, Argolid: Fragment of pod and seed Water flotation method used to collect plant fragments, such as pods, seeds and charcoal. Water flotation for the retrieval of environmental data: a) the process of washing soil (left); b) the residue from washing before sorting(right). Sorting residue from water flotation (left); sorting flot through a stereoscope microscope (right). Earliest carob pollen identified from Hula valley, north Israel, in the ca 40,000 BP. (before present).
Agricultural extensification refers to an expansive, lowinput production strategy that is land ra... more Agricultural extensification refers to an expansive, lowinput production strategy that is land rather than labour limited. Here, we present a robust method, using the archaeological proxies of cereal grain nitrogen isotope values and settlement size, to investigate the relationship between agricultural intensity and population size at Neolithic to Bronze/Iron Age settlement sites in northern Mesopotamia, the Aegean and southwest Germany. We conclude that urban form-in particular, density of occupation-as well as scale shaped the agroecological trajectories of early cities. Whereas high-density urbanism in northern Mesopotamia and the Aegean entailed radical agricultural extensification, lower density urbanism in southwest Germany afforded more intensive management of arable land. We relate these differing agricultural trajectories to long-term urban growth/collapse cycles in northern Mesopotamia and the Aegean, on the one hand, and to the volatility of early Iron Age elite power structures and urban centralization in southwest Germany, on the other.
"This presentation is centred in the study of the few samples of archaeobotanical material w... more "This presentation is centred in the study of the few samples of archaeobotanical material which have been studied from the Neolithic Cave site of Alepotrypa in 1980. There is a need to incorporate this material in the up-to-date archaeobotanical debate, which has come to light in Alepotrypa itself, as seen in the recent monograph (Margaritis 2018), but, further, a dialogue which would include the Peloponnese but also beyond it."
Circum-Mediterranean cultural heritage and medicinal plant uses in traditional animal healthcare:... more Circum-Mediterranean cultural heritage and medicinal plant uses in traditional animal healthcare: a field survey in eight selected areas
Interdisciplinaria Archaeologica - Natural Sciences in Archaeology
the archaeology of the grape has been studied quite thoroughly from the angle of the technology o... more the archaeology of the grape has been studied quite thoroughly from the angle of the technology of wine-pressing, wine making installations and the archaeobotany of the grape plant, its origin and dispersion. the grape though is elusive archaeobotanically, even in to wine-producing areas, due to the fact that traded wine is often filtered and can only be detected by chemical analyses. Monastiraki in crete, though, a Middle Bronze age site, has provided us with information on the organization of grape-pressing, methods of wine-making and, perhaps, offers insights into the organization of wine and vine products, data which other prehistoric sites in crete had not revealed so far.
Les Journees maliotes organisees a l'Ecole francaise d'Athenes les 2 et 3 novembre 2007 p... more Les Journees maliotes organisees a l'Ecole francaise d'Athenes les 2 et 3 novembre 2007 portaient sur l'organisation des espaces et l'exploitation des ressources, themes qui permettaient d'unir les approches effectuees ces dernieres annees selon deux echelles differentes, celle de l'agglomeration et de l'urbanisme d'une part, celle de l'organisation du territoire d'autre part. Les contributions portent toutes sur des recherches en cours, dont la publication est recente ou proche. Elles sont publiees ici sous forme de resumes argumentes et refletent fidelement les discussions qui les suivirent.
INSTAP Academic Press (Institute for Aegean Prehistory) eBooks, 2002
It is a general discussion on the diet and environment as seen from the bioarchaeological remains... more It is a general discussion on the diet and environment as seen from the bioarchaeological remains from Palaikastro, East Crete.
The Annual of the British School at Athens, Nov 1, 1990
Types of pulse cultivated for human consumption in present-day Thera (and adjacent islands) and a... more Types of pulse cultivated for human consumption in present-day Thera (and adjacent islands) and archaeobotanical material from Akrotiri are identified. It is suggested that they are both the same variety, not identified elsewhere as used for human consumption, suggesting it is particularly suited to the local environment.
Vicia articulate Horne. a not highly domesticated legume, which is used as green manure, fodder a... more Vicia articulate Horne. a not highly domesticated legume, which is used as green manure, fodder and, in times of stress, as food, is in the process of extinction. Although it was mentioned as cultivated up to the 1950s in many parts of Greece, lately, the only area, which is known to still cultivate it, is on the Cycladic island of Santorini, Thera, and referred to as 'lentil'. The aim of this paper is threefold: a) to intercept its extinction, as it is an excellent plant for green manuring and fodder and enriches, the soil with nutrients and humidity, under arid conditions. Its importance in agriculture and husbandry needs to be redressed. It produces even under ≤ 300 mm of rain, which is of utmost importance in times of Climate Change. B) to draw the attention of archaeobotanists to pay more attention in identifying lentil-type legumes in the archaeological contexts, and widen our knowledge on the legumes cultivated in the past, as well as build their biographies regarding their domestication trajectories and use. C) Call for the attention of ethnobotanists, archaeobotanists and farmers to cooperate, protect and promote traditional systems of agriculture, which are more sustainable, in arid environments.
The study of archaeobotanical remains from the Neopalatial settlement on the coast of Mochlos: Th... more The study of archaeobotanical remains from the Neopalatial settlement on the coast of Mochlos: The Artisans' Quarter and the farmhouse at Chalinomouri.
Excavations at Knossos have uncovered faunal and archaeobotanical archives spanning the Neolithic... more Excavations at Knossos have uncovered faunal and archaeobotanical archives spanning the Neolithic and Bronze Age (7th–2nd millennia bce), during which one of Europe’s earliest known farming settlements developed into its first major urban settlement and centre of one of its oldest regional states. Through stable isotope (δ13C, δ15N) analysis of seeds and bones (as evidence for the growing conditions of cereal and pulse crops and for the types of forage consumed by livestock), land use and, ultimately, political economy are explored. Changing husbandry conditions overwrite any effects of long-term aridification. Early (7th–6th millennium bce) Knossian farmers grew intensively managed cereals and pulses (probably in rotation) that were closely integrated (as manured sources of forage) with livestock. Through the later Neolithic and Bronze Age, settlement growth accompanied more extensive cultivation (eventually with cereals and pulses not in rotation) and greater use of rough graze an...
Agricultural extensification refers to an expansive, lowinput production strategy that is land ra... more Agricultural extensification refers to an expansive, lowinput production strategy that is land rather than labour limited. Here, we present a robust method, using the archaeological proxies of cereal grain nitrogen isotope values and settlement size, to investigate the relationship between agricultural intensity and population size at Neolithic to Bronze/Iron Age settlement sites in northern Mesopotamia, the Aegean and southwest Germany. We conclude that urban form-in particular, density of occupation-as well as scale shaped the agroecological trajectories of early cities. Whereas high-density urbanism in northern Mesopotamia and the Aegean entailed radical agricultural extensification, lower density urbanism in southwest Germany afforded more intensive management of arable land. We relate these differing agricultural trajectories to long-term urban growth/collapse cycles in northern Mesopotamia and the Aegean, on the one hand, and to the volatility of early Iron Age elite power structures and urban centralization in southwest Germany, on the other.
Agricultural extensification refers to an expansive, lowinput production strategy that is land ra... more Agricultural extensification refers to an expansive, lowinput production strategy that is land rather than labour limited. Here, we present a robust method, using the archaeological proxies of cereal grain nitrogen isotope values and settlement size, to investigate the relationship between agricultural intensity and population size at Neolithic to Bronze/Iron Age settlement sites in northern Mesopotamia, the Aegean and southwest Germany. We conclude that urban form-in particular, density of occupation-as well as scale shaped the agroecological trajectories of early cities. Whereas high-density urbanism in northern Mesopotamia and the Aegean entailed radical agricultural extensification, lower density urbanism in southwest Germany afforded more intensive management of arable land. We relate these differing agricultural trajectories to long-term urban growth/collapse cycles in northern Mesopotamia and the Aegean, on the one hand, and to the volatility of early Iron Age elite power structures and urban centralization in southwest Germany, on the other.
Area of origin (Zohary 1973) in Arabian peninsula and the African Horn (Somalia) as Ceratonia ore... more Area of origin (Zohary 1973) in Arabian peninsula and the African Horn (Somalia) as Ceratonia oreothauma, an uncultivated species Average production of tree is c. 20 kilos and can reach 70 kilos Pulp consists of 90% and seeds 10%. Pyrgouthi in the Berbati Valley, Argolid: Fragment of pod and seed Water flotation method used to collect plant fragments, such as pods, seeds and charcoal. Water flotation for the retrieval of environmental data: a) the process of washing soil (left); b) the residue from washing before sorting(right). Sorting residue from water flotation (left); sorting flot through a stereoscope microscope (right). Earliest carob pollen identified from Hula valley, north Israel, in the ca 40,000 BP. (before present).
Agricultural extensification refers to an expansive, lowinput production strategy that is land ra... more Agricultural extensification refers to an expansive, lowinput production strategy that is land rather than labour limited. Here, we present a robust method, using the archaeological proxies of cereal grain nitrogen isotope values and settlement size, to investigate the relationship between agricultural intensity and population size at Neolithic to Bronze/Iron Age settlement sites in northern Mesopotamia, the Aegean and southwest Germany. We conclude that urban form-in particular, density of occupation-as well as scale shaped the agroecological trajectories of early cities. Whereas high-density urbanism in northern Mesopotamia and the Aegean entailed radical agricultural extensification, lower density urbanism in southwest Germany afforded more intensive management of arable land. We relate these differing agricultural trajectories to long-term urban growth/collapse cycles in northern Mesopotamia and the Aegean, on the one hand, and to the volatility of early Iron Age elite power structures and urban centralization in southwest Germany, on the other.
"This presentation is centred in the study of the few samples of archaeobotanical material w... more "This presentation is centred in the study of the few samples of archaeobotanical material which have been studied from the Neolithic Cave site of Alepotrypa in 1980. There is a need to incorporate this material in the up-to-date archaeobotanical debate, which has come to light in Alepotrypa itself, as seen in the recent monograph (Margaritis 2018), but, further, a dialogue which would include the Peloponnese but also beyond it."
Circum-Mediterranean cultural heritage and medicinal plant uses in traditional animal healthcare:... more Circum-Mediterranean cultural heritage and medicinal plant uses in traditional animal healthcare: a field survey in eight selected areas
Interdisciplinaria Archaeologica - Natural Sciences in Archaeology
the archaeology of the grape has been studied quite thoroughly from the angle of the technology o... more the archaeology of the grape has been studied quite thoroughly from the angle of the technology of wine-pressing, wine making installations and the archaeobotany of the grape plant, its origin and dispersion. the grape though is elusive archaeobotanically, even in to wine-producing areas, due to the fact that traded wine is often filtered and can only be detected by chemical analyses. Monastiraki in crete, though, a Middle Bronze age site, has provided us with information on the organization of grape-pressing, methods of wine-making and, perhaps, offers insights into the organization of wine and vine products, data which other prehistoric sites in crete had not revealed so far.
Les Journees maliotes organisees a l'Ecole francaise d'Athenes les 2 et 3 novembre 2007 p... more Les Journees maliotes organisees a l'Ecole francaise d'Athenes les 2 et 3 novembre 2007 portaient sur l'organisation des espaces et l'exploitation des ressources, themes qui permettaient d'unir les approches effectuees ces dernieres annees selon deux echelles differentes, celle de l'agglomeration et de l'urbanisme d'une part, celle de l'organisation du territoire d'autre part. Les contributions portent toutes sur des recherches en cours, dont la publication est recente ou proche. Elles sont publiees ici sous forme de resumes argumentes et refletent fidelement les discussions qui les suivirent.
Palaikastro, Block M (Building 6/Area 6) has produced interesting archaeobotanical data which pro... more Palaikastro, Block M (Building 6/Area 6) has produced interesting archaeobotanical data which provides further insight into MM and LM agricultural trends and the use of 'empty' spaces within settlements. The use of ethnography could, with its own limitations, provide insights that archaeological data alone cannot display.
Research Project:
MEANING 2017-2019
An A.G. Leventis Funded University of Cyprus Research Project... more Research Project: MEANING 2017-2019 An A.G. Leventis Funded University of Cyprus Research Project
Prof. Maria Iacovou (Principal Investigator)
From the metalliferous sources to the citadel complex of Ancient Paphos: archaeo-environmental analysis of the mining and the built environment
Athens: Society for the Promotion of Studies on Prehistoric Thera., 2021
The fourth decade (1997-2007) of archaeological activity at Akrotiri, Thera, saw the completion o... more The fourth decade (1997-2007) of archaeological activity at Akrotiri, Thera, saw the completion of the excavation of the shafts for the foundations of the pillars of the new bioclimatic shelter, and the satisfactory progress of study of the finds. Since the presentation of our excavation and research work at regular intervals is almost and institution, one more colloquium was organized in 2007, in order to present the particularly important new discoveries and the multifaceted scientific approach to the diverse issues arising from the recent excavations. Needless to say, our obligation to make known to the scholarly community, as well as to the general public, the significant work being carried out at Akrotiri could not be met fully without the publication of the proceedings of that meeting. in 2021, fourteen years after the 2007 colloquium, our initial aim was eventually fulfilled, with the publication of the Proceedings of the Two-day Colloquium on 40 Years of Research at Akrotiri (1967-2007). This exceptionally long delay, which was due to many and varied setbacks, certainly beyond our control, in no way diminishes the scientific interest of this volume, the contributions to which are the fruit of many years of research and experience in the scientific field, offering a rich body of new material and expressing interesting interpretations and fresh ideas. indeed, in order to reach as wide a readership as possible, it was decided to publish the book in english. The grouping of the articles in this volume in five thematic units follows the programme of the papers presented at the two-day colloquium. The introductory chapter 40 Years of Research, which precedes, is the compte rendu of work at Akrotiri over 40 consecutive years: excavation, conservation, documentation, infrastructure, management, protection and enhancement. The first thematic unit, Stratigraphy-Chronology, deals with the geology and terrain of the area in which the prehistoric settlement at Akrotiri developed, and sketches the gradual cultural development of the settlement during the Neolithic, early Cycladic and Middle Cycladic periods. in the second unit, Urban Planning and Architecture, relevant articles present a part of the large 'public' building Xeste 4, trace over time the constructional development of Building Complex delta from its founding to its final phase, propose the restoration of the picture of a quarter of the settlement in the northwest sector of the excavated site, attempt to remodel the open spaces and the drainagesewerage network of the city, and, last, attempt a 3d virtual reconstruction of Xeste 3. The third unit, Technology-Economy, refers to important productive activities and attempts to link some products with the economy. Presented are the preliminary results of an interesting study of inorganic material found in small quantities, mainly as residues on the surface of stone tools. Most samples are related to pigments, which were used widely for colouring the outside of the buildings and for the decoration of their interior spaces with wall-paintings, as well as to produce even cosmetics. The finding of a quantity of pulverized quartz suggest the possibility of local production of faience. The confirmation of the widespread use of zeolite points to its use in diverse applications, such as detergent, disinfectant, filtering. At Akrotiri, the preservation of textiles is a unique challenge for studying the technology of spinning and weaving, as attested by tools of cloth production-spindle whorls and loom-weights-and by actual textiles.
Traditional Mediterranean Diet:Past, Present & Future., 2004
This is a general article on the cultivated plants used for food and other economic activities at... more This is a general article on the cultivated plants used for food and other economic activities at Akrotiri, Thera/ Santorini.
KNOWN, FORGOTTEN AND LOST GRAINS. ΔΗΜΗΤΡΙΑΚΑ: ΓΝΩΣΤΑ, ΞΕΧΑΣΜΕΝΑ ΚΑΙ ΧΑΜΕΝΑ , 2019
Proceedings of the 4th Symposium of Greek Gastronomy (2017).
Πρακτικά του 4ου Συμποσίου Ελληνικής... more Proceedings of the 4th Symposium of Greek Gastronomy (2017). Πρακτικά του 4ου Συμποσίου Ελληνικής Γαστρονομίας (2017)
Origins and domestication Garlic (Allium sativum) is a sterile and perennial plant. It is propaga... more Origins and domestication Garlic (Allium sativum) is a sterile and perennial plant. It is propagated through a vegetative method. The wild ancestry of garlic has not been definitely established yet, and nor has its place of domestication (Fritsch, Friesen 2002. 26; Zohary, Hopf, Weiss 2012). Daniel Zohary (1998) believes that garlic is a native crop of Southwest Asia, the Mediterranean and temperate Europe, but does not explain if its use of 'native' is equal to 'naturalised', and this remains a bone of contention for some. However it seems that this possible distribution agrees with Reinhard M. Fritsch and Nikolai Friesen (2002). The cultivars are believed to be the closest morphologically and molecularly to A. longicuspis Regel 1 1 (Stearn
Athens University Review of Archaeology Volume 2, 2019
Download link: http://aura.arch.uoa.gr/aura/publications-en
Athens University Review of Archaeol... more Download link: http://aura.arch.uoa.gr/aura/publications-en Athens University Review of Archaeology (AURA) is an international, peer-reviewed archaeological journal published annually by the Department of History and Archaeology of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens. The journal is dedicated to the publication of original research articles and reports focusing on, or related to the archaeology, art and material culture in the broader Greek world, from the earliest Prehistory to the Modern Era.
AURA is a fully open access journal, published electronically as a PDF file. All papers are available on the Internet to all users immediately upon publication and free of charge, according to the Creative Commons CC BY-NC-ND 4.0. AURA issues and AURA Supplements can also be distributed on a print-on-demand basis and posted or collected from the bookstore “Kardamitsa Publications”, 8 Ippokratous str, Athens.
Book review of the book <The Origins and Ancient History of Wine. By McGovern, P.E., Fleming, S.J... more Book review of the book <The Origins and Ancient History of Wine. By McGovern, P.E., Fleming, S.J., Katz, S.H. (eds.).> which was presenting evidence on ancient wine.
Review of the Book/dictionary by L. Karali <Dictionary of Archaeological - Environmental Terms> (... more Review of the Book/dictionary by L. Karali <Dictionary of Archaeological - Environmental Terms> (Greek)
Uploads
Papers by Anaya Sarpaki
MEANING 2017-2019
An A.G. Leventis Funded University of Cyprus Research Project
Prof. Maria Iacovou (Principal Investigator)
From the metalliferous sources to the citadel complex of Ancient Paphos:
archaeo-environmental analysis of the mining and the built environment
Πρακτικά του 4ου Συμποσίου Ελληνικής Γαστρονομίας (2017)
Athens University Review of Archaeology (AURA) is an international, peer-reviewed archaeological journal published annually by the Department of History and Archaeology of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens. The journal is dedicated to the publication of original research articles and reports focusing on, or related to the archaeology, art and material culture in the broader Greek world, from the earliest Prehistory to the Modern Era.
AURA is a fully open access journal, published electronically as a PDF file. All papers are available on the Internet to all users immediately upon publication and free of charge, according to the Creative Commons CC BY-NC-ND 4.0. AURA issues and AURA Supplements can also be distributed on a print-on-demand basis and posted or collected from the bookstore “Kardamitsa Publications”, 8 Ippokratous str, Athens.
To download a free copy of the first volume of AURA or request a hard copy please visit http://aura.arch.uoa.gr/aura/publications-en
For guide for authors please visit http://aura.arch.uoa.gr/aura/author-guide
For further information and submission of papers for publication you may contact us at [email protected]
The Editors
Konstantinos Kopanias and Yiannis Papadatos
Department of History and Archaeology
National and Kapodistrian University of Athens