Approaches to reconstruction of early Celtic land-use in the cent ral Neckar region in southwestern Germany

Abstract

In four early Celtic settlements in the central Neckar region of Baden-Württemberg (Germany), 250 archaeobotanical samples were collected and studied for their plant macrofossils.Hordeum vulgare L. (hulled barley) andTrilicum spella L. (spelt wheat) could be recognized as the main crops, as well asPanicum miliaceum L. (millet) in some places. Legumes andLinum usitatissimum L. (flax) were important crops. Typical field weeds dominated the wild plant remains, but some present-day grassland taxa were abundantly and frequently found. The analysis of the data set of finds of the cereal remains, field weeds and grassland plants was done by Correspondence Analysis, but no significant differences between the various groups were found. Samples dominated by remains of grassland taxa, which could indicate that there were hay meadows, were absent. Consideration of plant macrofossil results as well as archaeological, osteological and pollen analytical data shows that there is likely to have been a land management system of arable fields and grassland. The densely settled fertile central Neckar region could therefore have been intensively utilised, using all available resources. Permanent grasslands in the form of pasture on river floodplains and on dry soils were certainly present. Hay meadows, on the other hand, were not identified. Cultivated plants such asFicus carica L. (fig) andVicia ervilia (L.) Willd. (bitter vetch) as well as some field weeds suggest connections with the Mediterranean lands.