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Sebesten fruits (Cordia myxa L.) in Gallia Narbonensis (Southern France): a trade item from the Eastern Mediterranean?

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Abstract

Archaeobotanical studies carried out by rescue archaeology at Nîmes and Marseille (Southern France) provided evidence of Cordia myxa during the 2nd and 3rd centuries a.d. The fruit stones were found both waterlogged in domestic contexts and charred in a cremation grave (plant offering). Data from these finds and a survey of historical documents and archaeobotanical literature are combined here to discuss the origins and uses of these fruits in the western world.

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Acknowledgments

Thanks are due to R. Cappers, M. Kislev, J. Morales, C. Newton, M. van der Veen for the useful information provided for the identification of the Cordia stones. We also thank M. Pauthier and the Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle (Paris) for allowing access to herbarium specimens as well as C. Newton, O. Rousselet and R. Sostaric for allowing us to mention their findings of Cordia stones in Spain and Croatia. The help of S. Ivorra, V. Lelièvre and A. Guey (Illustrations) is also gratefully acknowledged. Bibliographical references and unpublished information have been provided by V. Bel, J.-Y. Breuil, M. Bonifay, J.-P. Darmon, S. Esclamanti, E. Lev and P. A. Schäfer for which we thank them. This work has received financial support from programs ANR Fructimedhis and Bioarcheodat. Thanks are also due to the reviewers who significantly helped us to improve the manuscript.

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  1. CNRS, Centre de Bio-Archéologie et d’Ecologie, UMR 5059, UM2/CNRS/EPHE, 163 Rue A. Broussonet, 34090, Montpellier, France

    Laurent Bouby

  2. INRAP Méditerranée, Archéologie des Sociétés Méditerranéennes, UMR 5140/CNRS/UM3/INRAP/DRAC, 561 Rue Etienne Lenoir, Km Delta, 30 900, Nîmes, France

    Anne Bouchette

  3. INRAP Méditerranée, Centre de Bio-Archéologie et d’Ecologie, UMR 5059, UM2/CNRS/EPHE, 163 Rue A. Broussonet, 34090, Montpellier, France

    Isabel Figueiral

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Correspondence to Laurent Bouby.

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Communicated by M. van der Veen.

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Bouby, L., Bouchette, A. & Figueiral, I. Sebesten fruits (Cordia myxa L.) in Gallia Narbonensis (Southern France): a trade item from the Eastern Mediterranean?. Veget Hist Archaeobot 20, 397–404 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00334-011-0285-3

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