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A palaeocarpological study of Neolithic and Bronze Age levels of the Buraco da Pala rock-shelter (Bragança, Portugal)

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Abstract

Palaeocarpological (archaeobotanical) analysis of Neolithic and Bronze Age levels of the Buraco da Pala site (Bragança, Portugal) provides evidence of considerable agricultural activity. Triticum, Hordeum and Vicia predominated, though Pisum, Lens, Vitis, Linum and Papaver were also found. Most wheat grains were spheroidal and were identified as Triticum aestivum subsp. sphaerococcum, in disagreement with recent suggestions that taxa with spheroidal grains have never been present in the Iberian Peninsula. Quercus and Pinus seed indicated that gathering activities supplemented agricultural production.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratorio de Botánica, Departamento de Bioloxía Vexetal, Facultade de Farmacia, Universidade de Santiago, Santiago de Compostela, E-15706, Galicia, Spain

    Pablo Ramil Rego & María Jesús Aira Rodriguez

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  1. Pablo Ramil Rego
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  2. María Jesús Aira Rodriguez
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Rego, P.R., Aira Rodriguez, M.J. A palaeocarpological study of Neolithic and Bronze Age levels of the Buraco da Pala rock-shelter (Bragança, Portugal). Veget Hist Archaebot 2, 163–172 (1993). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00198587

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00198587

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