'Domestication syndrome' (DS) denotes differences between domesticated plants and their wild progenitors. Crop plants are dynamic entities; hence, not all parameters distinguishing wild progenitors from cultigens resulted from domestication. In this opinion article, we refine the DS concept using agronomic, genetic, and archaeobotanical considerations by distinguishing crucial domestication tra...

A combination of genetics and archaeology is revealing the complexity of the relationships between crop plants and their wild ancestors. Archaeobotanical studies are showing that acquisition of the full set of traits observed in domesticated cereals was a protracted process, intermediate stages being seen at early farming sites throughout the Fertile Crescent. New genetic data are confirming th...

Abstract This article uses spatial autocorrelation analysis in order to explore the social organisation of crop and herd management at Neolithic site Çatalhöyük south-central Turkey. Evidence for clustering across settlement is sought different scales (house, neighbourhood, radial wedge, sector, sub-mound) periods occupation from Early Late. The data used are sheep carbon nitrogen isotopes, den...

Through the analysis of macro- and micro-plant remains, food residues rice-field like features from mid-Neolithic site Hanjing in Huai River region, we propose an early beginning rice cultivation at Hanjing. The presence non-shattering spikelet bases increasing percentages phytoliths confirm appearance domesticated archaeobotanical assemblage. However, as indicated by different prediction rates...

Abstract This paper investigates agricultural practices during the 1st millennium BCE in Greece. New archaeobotanical data provide fresh insights on plant economy at urban centers of Sikyon and Olynthos, dated to Archaic-Classical period. The results show that staple Olynthos was based a broad spectrum. However, analysis records presence taxa such as sesame (Sesamum indicum) pine (Pinus pinea) ...

Plant remains from archaeological sites can provide information about the ancient environment. However, these remains should be considered archaeological artifacts, "filtered" through human culture. Adequate interpretation is only possible, and is indeed enriched, by taking the cultural practices of human populations into account. This approach is applied to archaeobotanical materials from Maly...