Fruits arriving to the west. Introduction of cultivated fruits in the Iberian Peninsula

• Arboriculture in the Iberian peninsula dates back to beginning of 1st millennium BC. The adoption fruit tree cultivation is part process social complexity. A large collection remains has been dated. Agricultural activities, including practices, crops and techniques have evolved throughout history undergoing tremendous changes. From early Neolithic farmers Mediterranean focused on cereal agriculture only later, during 4th/3rd cal. BC Eastern basin, other species such as trees were introduced into agrarian system transforming model that had use for millennia. Fruit management required innovation investment more importantly multi-year foresight new entailed a pace work with delayed returns and, thus, greater entanglement land. Processes complexity urbanization accompanied emergence arboriculture which occurred at different both ends Mediterranean. This paper focuses Peninsula, most western region, when spread after commercial encounters oriental seafarers. Here we report earliest archaeobotanical evidence (seeds fruits) introduction Iberia. Results from several sites indicate was long varied regionally. In some areas rapidly adopted integrated trading networks while regions not developed until end millennium. Of various products commercialized, wine occupied relevant role.