Food production and food procurement in the Bronze Age and Early Iron Age
(2000-500 BC)
Hingh, A.E. de
Citation
Hingh, A. E. de. (2000, January 1). Food production and food procurement in the Bronze Age and
Early Iron Age (2000-500 BC). Archaeological Studies Leiden University. Retrieved from
https://hdl.handle.net/1887/13513
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Corrected Publisher’s Version
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Repository of the University of Leiden
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6.1 Rémerschen - Schengerwis 6.1.1 INTRODUCTION
The community of Rémerschen is located in the south of Luxemburg, very close to the French and German borders. It is situated in the Moselle valley, at one kilometre west of the present river course. The rescue excavations of the
Schengerwis site were carried out in 1993 and 1994 by the Section Préhistoire of the Museé National de Luxemburg with the collaboration of the Section Anthropologie et Préhistoire of the Institut Royal des Sciences Naturelles de Belgique, under the direction of Foni Le Brun-Ricalens and Anne De Ruyter (Le Brun/De Ruyter 1993; Fechner/Lan-gohr 1993; Le Brun et al. 1994; De Ruyter et al. 1995). The site is located on the Lower Terrace which is covered with loam. The terrain is virtually flat and only some metres above river level.
The archaeological investigations specifically focussed on the Early Neolithic (Bandceramic) occupation phase on the site. During the two campaigns (1993 and 1994) on this location numerous protohistoric and Roman features were also recovered. In an area of more than 2 hectares, a total of 1500 features were found, dating from the Bandceramic period, the Hallstatt period and the Roman period. 6.1.2 FEATURES
The Hallstatt features of Rémerschen can be divided into two categories: buildings (houses and granaries) and pits of various nature (silo-pits and silos). The features that were sampled for botanical analysis are all situated in the north-east corner of sector I (figure 2.10). In this part of the ter-rain, a concentration of pits and silos and a number of four-and more-posted structures (probably granaries) were recov-ered comparable to the sites of Gondreville (and Rettel, see above). Some of the buildings in sector I are interpreted as houses. The depth of some postholes is more than one metre. An important category of features is formed by the silos, of which a total number of c. 150 were recovered during the excavation. These structures can be discerned from other pits because of their typical layout, which is cylindrical, obtuse angled or bell-shaped (see figure 2.8). On the basis of the pottery, the structures in sector I are dated in the Hallstatt final period (550-450 BC).
Large storage areas like in Rémerschen, Gondreville and to a certain extent in Rettel (see above) are a common phenomenon in this period. Another well known example is the silo terrain from Danebury (Great-Britain) where a battery of c. 5000 silos was found. Taking into account that silos were used only once for the storage of seed corn and that the storage area of Danebury was in use for a period of c. 500 years, Cunliffe demonstrated that the silos were meant for a population of c. 140 persons (Cunliffe 1992). A similar calculation for the site of Rémerschen would suggest that the storage silos were in use by a group of c. 30 persons. However, we should take into account that a considerable part of the terrain may have been eroded.
A remarkable find in the site of Rémerschen was the deposi-tion of a contracted complete human body placed on the bottom of the silo 442 (figure 6.1). Although not very fre-quently encountered, human burials in silos have been attested before and are by some authors interpreted as propi-tiatory sacrifices (Cunliffe 1992; Villes 1986) (see also chapter 12).
6.1.3 SAMPLES
As the investigation of the Iron Age did not have priority in this excavation and no systematic sample strategy was carried out, the total number of samples available was low. Only nine features were, at the last moment, sampled in order to collect fragments of charcoal and botanical macro remains. Although it is regrettable that not all features were sampled, the nine samples yield important information on the nature of the agriculture in Iron Age Rémerschen. The volume and description for each sample are given in table 6.1.
Two postholes of a large eight-posted building with heavy posts (figure 6.2) and the fillings of seven silos were sam-pled. In first instance, the samples were taken in order to conduct an analysis of the charcoal; therefore their volumes are smaller than is normally required for botanical investi-gation (1,5 litres, average, with the exception of structure 430 of which in total 12 litres of sediment were investi-gated). The botanical analyses were carried out by the author.
396 430 436 437 438 457 470 Ha final Ha final Ha final Ha final Ha final Ha final Ha final La Tene anc. La Tene anc. La Tene anc. La Tene anc. La Tene anc. La Tene anc. La Tene anc.
530-400 BC 530-400 BC 530-400 BC 530-400 BC 530-400 BC 530-400 BC 530-400 BC
volume (L.) 1 12 1,5 0,5 3 1,5 1,5
Camelina sativa - 2 - - - - 2
Hordeum vulgare (base) - - - 1
Hordeum vulgare (grain) - 2 6 - 2 1 19
Hordeum vulgare vulgare (grain) - 2 - 1 - 3
-Lens culinaris - - - 1
Pisum sativum - 1 - - 2 1cf 56
Pisum sativum/Vicia faba - 15 6 - - -
-Triticum aestivum (grain) - 1 - - - - 6
Triticum dicoccum (glume base) - - - 5 22
Triticum dicoccum (grain) - 1 - - - - 1
Triticum monococcum (glume base) - - - 8cf
Triticum spec. (glume base) - 49 - - 1 50 48
Triticum spec. (grain) 2 2 4 - 1 3 3
Triticum spelta (glume base) - 1cf - - - - 4
Triticum/Hordeum (fragments) 4 43 40 3 1 30 56
Atriplex patula/prostrata - - 4 - - -
-Avena spec. (awn) - 1 - - - - 2
Avena spec. (grain) - 1 1 - - - 6
Bromus secalinus-type - 1 - - - 1 1 Carex spec. - - - 1 Centaurea spec. - - - 1 2 Chenopodium album 1 166 20 5 - 61 19 Chenopodium ficifolium - - 1 2 - - -Chenopodium hybridum - 2 - - - - -Chenopodium polyspermum - - - 1 Echinochloa crus-galli - 1 - - - - -Euphrasia/Odontites spec. - 1 - - - - -Fallopia convolvulus - 1 2 6 - 1 1 Festuca/Lolium spec. 1cf 1 1 1 - - 15 Galium aparine - 1 1 - - - 1 Galium mollugo - - - 6 Galium spec. - - 1 - - - 1 Galium spurium - - 1 2 - - -Leucanthemum vulgare - - - 3 Lotus/Trifolium spec. - 1 2 8 - 2 30 Papilionaceae - 1 - - - - -Persicaria lapathifolia - 2 - - - - -Persicaria lapathifolia/maculosa - 2 - - - - -Persicaria spec. - - - 1
Poa annua/Phleum spec. - 1 2 7 - 5 32
Rumex acetosella - - - 1 - - 1cf Rumex spec. 1 - - 1 - - 3 Sambucus ebulus - 2 - - - - 1f Sambucus spec. - 5 1 - - 2f -Scleranthus annuus - 1 1 - - - -Solanum nigrum - - - 1 Stellaria spec. - - - 1 -Vicia hirsuta - 2cf - - - - 2 Vicia sativa - 2 - - - - -Vicia spec. - 6 - - - - 6
Table 6.1 List of species. Rémerschen - Schengerwis
6.1.4 MACRO REMAINS
Two out of the nine samples from Rémerschen did not contain any charred plant material. These are the samples from structures 284 (one of the large postholes at the west side of the eight-posted building) and structure 455 (one of the silos). The remaining seven samples yielded small to relatively high numbers of seeds.
In some cases, the material was badly preserved. The strong erosion known to have taken place at some parts of the excavation terrain was disadvantageous to the conser-vation of some of the charred remains (Le Brun/De Ruyter 1993, 77). The remaining material was relatively well preserved and enabled us to identify at least eight different crops and 34 different taxa of arable weeds. Grains and chaff of (hulled) six-row barley was found, as well as grains and chaff remains of the hulled wheat species
emmer, einkorn and spelt wheat and the naked bread wheat. The samples also contained remains of various pulses: lentil, pea and possibly horse bean, and grains of gold-of-pleasure.
6.2 Budersberg - Dudelange 6.2.1 INTRODUCTION, FEATURES
Budersberg, community of Dudelange, is located south of the town of Luxemburg, close to the French border. At this location, the sediment consists predominantly of löss. The location “Ponk” was archaeologically investigated in 1983 and 1985 by the archaeologists of the Museé National de Luxembourg. The excavations took place under the direction of Raymond Waringo. At the bottom of the slope of the Mont St. Jean, a surface of 100 m2was excavated and one
large pit was recovered. The pit yielded more than 300 kilos of pottery that was dated in the Bronze final I period (Waringo 1988, 138-40). Within the pit, five clearly differ-ent layers were discerned.
6.2.2 SAMPLES
From the layers 2, 3 and 4, a total number of 13 soil sam-ples was taken in order to conduct a botanical analysis. Eight samples were taken from layer 2, a black, organic charcoal layer which yielded abundant ceramic finds. Three samples were taken from layer 3, a brown, gravel layer which produced large quantities of pottery. Finally, from layer 4, a grey, loamy layer which produced little material, two samples were taken. The volume and description for each of the samples are to be found in table 6.2. In total, c. 15 litres of sediments were investigated. The analysis of the samples was carried out by J. Goudzwaard. Some of the results of the investigations were already published by Bakels (1991).
6.2.3 MACRO REMAINS
The collected samples contained a total of 854 plant remains, of which 801 could be identified. The black layer demonstrated a high density of seeds, esp. the samples from the quadrants q/3 and V. The brown and grey layers pro-duced few to very few macro remains.
Five different crops and 45 different taxa of arable weeds (among which Plantago lanceolata and Lapsana communis, see figure 6.3) and other wild plants could be discerned. The presence of grains of barley, emmer wheat and millet, and the chaff remains of emmer wheat and spelt wheat could be attested. The identification of some cereal grains and chaff remains was relatively difficult: these remains could be identified as spelt or bread wheat, spelt or emmer wheat, or plain wheat. Two seeds of horse bean were iden-tified. A total number of 45 different taxa of weeds was attested.
Fig. 6.2 Rémerschen - Schengerwis - building and annexe granary (from De Ruyter/Le Brun Ricalens 1993)
6.3 Peppange - Keitzenberg 6.3.1 INTRODUCTION
Peppange, community of Roeser, is situated south of the town of Luxemburg, close to the French border. On a virtu-ally flat terrace along the south slope of the Houselbierg, the site of Keitzenberg is located. The excavations on this site were executed by the Museé National de Luxembourg and directed by Raymond Waringo. In 1974, 1975 and 1982 successively, excavations took place on this spot and 2000 m2were eventually uncovered. Waringo described the
ter-race as a settlement location “par excellence”, because of the slight slope of the terrain, the fertile löss soil and protec-tion by the high posiprotec-tion (275 metre above NN) (Waringo 1980). Evidence of occupation presented by house plans were not found, but other structures point to human activity, i.e. a cluster of pits of irregular form, with depths of 7 to 85 cm. The results of the pottery analysis and the investigation of other material categories from the pits A, B, C, D, E, and F were very elaborately described by Waringo (1980). 6.3.2 FEATURES AND SAMPLES
On the basis of the pottery evidence, two phases can be distinguished in the pit complex. The ceramics from the pits A, B and C are dated in the Bronze final IIa period. The material from the other pits (D, E and F) can be dated in the Bronze final IIb period. From the pits C, D, E, and F soil samples were taken for botanical analysis: two samples from pit C, one sample from pit D, three samples from pit E and one from pit F. In total 13,5 litres of sediment were investi-gated for plant remains (see table 6.3). The analyses were carried out by J. Goudzwaard and W. Kuijper. The first results on Peppange were preliminarily published by Bakels (1991).
121
pit pit pit
black layer brown layer grey layer Bf I Bf I Bf I
volume (L.) 8,5 4 2,5
Hordeum vulgare (grain) 4 - -Panicum miliaceum (grain) 4 - -Triticum dicoccum (glume base) - 18 -Triticum dicoccum (grain) 10 4 -Triticum spec. (grain) 67 - -Triticum spelta (glume base) 8 - -Triticum spelta/aestivum (grain) 5 - -Triticum spelta/dicoccum (base) 86 4 -Triticum/Hordeum (grain) 59 7 3
Vicia faba 1 1
-Arenaria serpyllifolia 2 - -Atriplex patula prostrata 7 1
-Atriplex spec. 10 - -Bromus secalinus-type 14 - -Bromus spec. 24 1 -Carex spec. 33 1 -Cerastium spec. 2 - -Chenopodium album 47 3 -Chenopodium hybridum 1 - -Chenopodium polyspermum 3 - -Compositae 2 - -Fallopia convolvulus 5 - -Festuca rubra 2 - -Galium aparine 7 1 -Galium mollugo/verum 1 -
-Galium palustre spp. palustre 4 -
-Galium spec. 2 - -Galium spurium 20 1 -Gramineae 31 - -Juncus spec. 1 - -Lapsana communis 9 1 -Leucanthemum vulgare 25 - -Matricaria maritima 1 - -Medicago lupulina 2 - -Persicaria lapathifolium 1 - -Persicaria maculosa 2 - -Phleum spec. 39 3 -Plantago lanceolata 2 - -Plantago major 2 - -Poa trivialis/pratensis 121 - -Rhinanthus spec. 3 2 -Rumex cf. sanguineus 7 - -Stellaria graminea 4 - -Stellaria spec. 3 - -Teucrium scorodonia 1 - -Trifolium dubium-type 4 - -Trifolium repens-type 14 - -Urtica dioica 2 - -Valerianella dentata 4 - -Veronica arvensis-type 3 - -Veronica chamaedrys 2 - -Veronica serpyllifolia 2 - -Vicia cracca - 1 -Vicia hirsuta 5 - -Vicia hirsuta/tetrasperma 17 1
-Table 6.2 List of species. Budersberg - Dudelange
• f or fr = fragment • cf = tentative identification• XXX = 100-1000 • ovk = waterlogged • X = 1-10• XXXX = more than thousand • vk = charred • XX = 10-100• XXXXX = more than 10.000
Fig. 6.3 Budersberg
6.3.3 MACRO REMAINS
From the collected samples a total number of 207 seeds and fruits were recovered. The results of the botanical analysis are listed in table 6.3. Four different crops were found: the grains of barley and millet, chaff of spelt wheat and one specimen of lentil. Some identifications of cereal
grains appeared to be problematic; they are listed as spelt or bread wheat, spelt or emmer wheat or plain wheat. The seeds of 19 different taxa of wild plants interpreted as arable weeds and two collected wild species (sloe and acorn) were found.
C C D E E E F
92 93 94 95 96 97 98
Bf Iia Bf Iia Bf IIbBf IIbBf IIbBf IIbBf IIb
volume (L.) 2 2 2 0,2 2 3 2
Hordeum vulgare (grain) - - - - 1 -
-Lens culinaris - - - 1
Panicum miliaceum (grain) 1 - - - 2 9
-Triticum spec. (grain) - - - 10
-Triticum spelta (glume base) 8 2 - - 1 1
-Triticum spelta/aestivum (grain) 8 - - -
-Triticum spelta/dicoccum (base) 14 - - - 3 11
-Triticum/Hordeum (fragments) - 6 20 - 4 - 15
Prunus spinosa - - - 4
-Quercus spec. - - - 1
-Atriplex patula/prostrata 5 - - - 1 1
-Brassica spec/Sinapis arvensis 1 - - -
-Bromus secalinus-type 1 - - - -Chenopodiaceae - - - 2 -Chenopodium album 8 - - - - 9 -Chenopodium hybridum - - - 2 -Chenopodium polyspermum - - - 2 -Daucus carota 2 - - - -Fallopia convolvulus - - - - 5 13
-Festuca ovina s. lat. - - - 1
-Galium cf. verum 1 - - - -Galium mollugo/verum - 1 - - - - -Lamium purpureum 1 - - - -Leucanthemum vulgare - - - 1 Sisymbrium officinale - 1 - - - - -Urtica dioica - - - 1 Urtica urens - - - 1 Vicia hirsuta 1 - - - 2 7 -Vicia spec. - - - - 1 -
-Table 6.3 List of species. Peppange - Keitzenberg
