Agricultural Intensification and the Evidence from Offsite Survey Archaeology

Abstract The enhancement of crop yields through manuring has been attested since early farming prehistory in many parts the world. This article reviews history research into potential archaeological evidence for this practice Europe, Mediterranean lands and Near East. focus is on interpretation ceramic data recovered surface field surveys conducted 1950 what sorts activities may be plausibly inferred from them. examines origins model, objections to it, recent analyses which again strengthen it. A particular case-study protohistoric historic periods Greece. methodological empirical arguments tend strongly reaffirm importance artificial agrarian regimes all periods, its significance furthering understandings economic demographic prehistory.