Diversity of Free-Threshing Wheat in Early Medieval England Supported by Geometric Morphometric Analysis of Grains

Observations of atypical grains and relatively small quantities diagnostic rachis fragments have led to suggestions that a new type wheat was introduced into Late Anglo-Saxon agriculture (c. AD 850–1066). This crop tetraploid free-threshing (FTW), potentially unknown in Britain since the Neolithic. Based on growing requirements, this is considered most likely been rivet, tall cultivar associated with thatching, presumably grown alongside hexaploid bread wheat. However, cultivation has not conclusively demonstrated because traditional morphological approaches do allow us identify specific FTW cultivars. New results suggest geometric morphometric analysis can distinguish at different taxonomic levels. Modern specimens were compared >450 charred from contexts spanning 7th–14th centuries twelve sites, accessed through ‘Feeding England’ (FeedSax) project. The presence rivet suggested several before after Norman Conquest (AD 1066), intra-species comparisons indicating greater similarity ‘traditional’ varieties than modern ‘improved’ forms. Morphological variation relating diversity both within between cultivars described interpreted context innovations arable production later period.