Sabine Karg

In order to determine whether ancient Egyptians had already selected and cultivated very specialized flax types according to their purpose for textile or oil production, respectively, we compared archaeobotanical flax finds with nearly 3000 diverse genebank accessions kept at the Plant Gene Resources of Canada (PGRC). The main result was that fibre flax was most probably already cultivated during the 3rd millennium BC, whereas in later periods an intermediate flax and/or oil type was in use. The collaboration between archaeobotanists and genebank curators shows how our knowledge about ancient usage of plants can be improved by interpreting observations made on ancient findings using recent characterization data obtained from diverse genebank material.

In order to determine whether ancient Egyptians had already selected and cultivated very specialized flax types according to their purpose for textile or oil production we compared archaeobotanical flax finds that are kept at the Botanical Museum of the Free University in Berlin, Germany with diverse genebank accessions kept at the Plant Gene Resources of Canada (PGRC). The main result was that fibre flax was most probably already cultivated in Egypt during the the 3^rd millennium BC, whereas in all later periods an intermediate flax and/or oil type was in use. The collaboration between archaeobotanists and genebank curators shows how knowledge about ancient usage of plants can be generated by interpreting observations made on ancient findings using characterization data obtained from diverse genebank material.

Plant finds from Neolithic and Bronze Age wetland sites in the Alpine region are usually extraordinarily well preserved and thereby offer realms of possibilities to study the relationship between plants and humans in the past. Changes in the importance of cultivating oil- and/or fibre flax (Linum usitatissimum L.) in the period between the 43^rd and the 20^th century BC are discussed. These changes might be explained by innovations in textile production at the same time. Thus, the study is considered to be relevant for both archaeologists and archaeobotanists. Flax seeds from 33 Neolithic and Bronze Age wetland sites were measured. The results show that two transitions in seed size occurred in the entire Alpine region. From the 38^th century BC onwards a new variety of flax with smaller seeds was cultivated, and at the same time textile tools such as loom weights and spindle whorls, as well as textiles made of flax increased. In all sites that have been analysed so far, this small-seeded variety that produces a much higher amount of fibres in their stems than the oil variety, dominate from the 35^th century onwards. However, during the 3^rd millennium a change recurred. Increased flax seed size from locations dated to the 20^th century indicates the cultivation of an oil variety. Presumably, fibre flax had lost its importance in favour of usage of animal fibres for textile production.

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Knowledge about the healing properties of plant substances is probably as old as humankind, and this can be demonstrated by botanical finds in archaeological contexts. Southern Scandinavia has a long tradition of supplying deceased persons with vegetal material for use in their afterlife, as shown by single seeds or processed plants in the form of foods, drinks or medicines. A well-known example is the small container made of birch bark most probably filled with a kind of mead produced from honey, in the Egtved girl’s coffin a find which has been dated to the Early Bronze Age. Another fascinating plant discovery derives from the grave of the Fyrkat woman dated to the Viking Age: a handful seeds of the poisonous plant henbane (Hyoscyamus niger) was found in a small pocket fixed to the woman’s belt. Plant materials enclosed in small amulet boxes are quite common and are frequently attached to necklaces that the deceased had certainly worn during their lives. In this article, we discuss the organic finds from a newly excavated amulet box which was discovered in a woman’s grave at the Late Roman Iron Age site of Vellensby, on the island of Bornholm. The box contained two ‘chewing gum-like objects’ with dental impressions and three vegetal objects. Gas chromatography/mass spectrometry analysis was applied to one of the ‘chewing gums’ and the results show that it consists of a mixture of birch tar and plant oil. Based on their morphological characteristics, the three uncharred plant parts could be identified as cloves from a wild species of Allium, probably A. scorodoprasum (sand leek). The traditional medicinal application of sand leek is presented and the symbolic and possible principal meaning of amulet boxes is discussed within a comparative study of related discoveries from female burials throughout Europe.

Plant finds recovered from archaeological sites in southern Scandinavia dated to the Viking Age reflect the diversity of useful plants that were cultivated and collected. This review presents the results of 14 investigations of deposits that are dated between AD 775 and 1050. The site types are categorized as agrarian, urban, military and burials. Garden plants are unevenly distributed, as the greatest diversity is recorded in features from urban contexts. We argue that taphonomic processes played an important role in the picture displayed. Archaeobotanical research results from neighbouring regions suggest that Viking Age horticulture has its roots in older traditions, and that the spectrum of garden plants is influenced by central and north-western European horticultural customs, which were to a great extent shaped by Roman occupation.