At the limits of the empire: food plant introductions and socio-economic changes in the Roman provinces of Germania

This study examines the introduction, distribution and potential adoption of new food plants in the Roman provinces of Germania Inferior and Superior. Drawing on a broad dataset of both published and unpublished archaeobotanical studies from a large geographical area and a wide range of settlement t...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores: Vandorpe, Patricia, Livarda, Alexandra
Tipo de recurso: artículo
Fecha de publicación:2026
País:España
Institución:Varias* (Consorci de Biblioteques Universitáries de Catalunya, Centre de Serveis Científics i Acadèmics de Catalunya)
Repositorio:Recercat. Dipósit de la Recerca de Catalunya
OAI Identifier:oai:recercat.cat:2072/489352
Acceso en línea:https://hdl.handle.net/2072/489352
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00334-025-01085-0
Access Level:acceso embargado
Palabra clave:Restes de plantes (Arqueologia) -- Alemanya
Alemanya -- Arqueologia
90
Descripción
Sumario:This study examines the introduction, distribution and potential adoption of new food plants in the Roman provinces of Germania Inferior and Superior. Drawing on a broad dataset of both published and unpublished archaeobotanical studies from a large geographical area and a wide range of settlement types, the study provides detailed insights into how food plants circulated within varying social structures in the northern reaches of the Roman Empire and beyond. A consideration of chronology and site type enabled the identification of three agents responsible for the distribution of new food plants in the northern provinces. These are related to military logistics, urban networks and ceremonial practices. The analysis of the changing distribution of food plants through time indicated that most never became part of the general local foodways but were rather integrated into specific contexts at particular times. It was only a limited number of species that were adopted and/or integrated into local cultivation and culinary regimes and these again were related to specific social groups and/or regions.