Functionality of early medieval roasters studied using archaeobotany and chromatography: preliminary studies

Abstract Roasters are clay, quadrilateral vessels that found in areas of whole Slavic region. For years, there has been a discussion on their functionality, which various concepts use keep appearing. In this paper we present the results botanical and gas chromatographic studies carried out several fragments roasters originated Sudetes Mountain area Sudetic Foreland. The analyzed artefacts total 26 pieces come from three early medieval sites: Gilów, Jelenia Góra–Grabary Kamieniec Ząbkowicki. obtained allowed to concluding these were used for thermal processing cereal grains both processes food preservation. made it possible move beginnings agrarian activity Mountains by 400 earlier than was thought, key meaning observation economy development mountainous Middle Ages.