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From the granary to the field; archaeobotany and experimental archaeology at l’Esquerda (Catalonia, Spain)

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Abstract

The study of a granary excavated at the medieval site of l’Esquerda has increased our knowledge of agricultural practices and economy. To deepen this knowledge, an experimental project was started with the late P.J. Reynolds (Butser Ancient Farm, England). Since the start of the experiment, 15 years of harvests have been collected from four fields near the archaeological site, which were cultivated with the cereals of medieval times and with a simulation of medieval farming practices. Meteorological conditions are measured by an automatic weather station, and the results are compared with those obtained in England. The research, initially started to provide more insight into crop yields, was extended towards medieval crop storage practices. The granary excavated at l’Esquerda has now been rebuilt using medieval techniques. This has allowed us to answer many questions about medieval architecture, tools and Blacksmith’s technology. Some underground pits were also dug. Experiments in crop storage using both systems are continuing.

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Acknowledgments

We thank the Dirección General de Investigación Cientifica y Técnica for funding the project DGCYT PB 90-0430, DGCYT PB 94-0842, DGCYT PB 98-1241 and HUM 2004-05280. Thanks to Leonor Peña-Chocarro and Otto Brinkkemper for constructive comments on an earlier version of the manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Museu Arqueològic de l’Esquerda, Bac de Roda, 6, 08510, Roda de Ter, Spain

    Carmen Cubero i Corpas

  2. Departament d’Història Medieval, Paleografia i Diplomàtica, Universitat de Barcelona, Montealegre, 6, 08001, Barcelona, Spain

    Imma Ollich i Castanyer

  3. Fundació Privada l’Esquerda, Museu Arqueològic de l’Esquerda, Bac de Roda, 6, 08510, Roda de Ter, Spain

    Montserrat de Rocafiguera i Espona & Maria Ocaña i Subirana

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  1. Carmen Cubero i Corpas
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  2. Imma Ollich i Castanyer
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  3. Montserrat de Rocafiguera i Espona
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  4. Maria Ocaña i Subirana
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Correspondence to Carmen Cubero i Corpas.

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Cubero i Corpas, C., Ollich i Castanyer, I., de Rocafiguera i Espona, M. et al. From the granary to the field; archaeobotany and experimental archaeology at l’Esquerda (Catalonia, Spain). Veget Hist Archaeobot 17, 85–92 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00334-007-0111-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00334-007-0111-0

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