Periodic Reporting for period 1 - MEDAPP (Medieval Appetites: food plants in multicultural Iberia (500-1100 CE))
Periodo di rendicontazione: 2023-01-01 al 2025-06-30
The Islamic conquest of Iberia in the 8th century brought in profound changes in the political, social and economic realms that transformed the everyday life of local rural and urban communities. Technological innovations and the arrival of new crops impacted their agriculture, diet and culinary practices.
Plants were present in almost all aspects of medieval people’s ordinary lives (food, crafts, medicines, etc.). However, they have been commonly sidelined in discussions of the past. Most of what we know about plants in this multicultural period in Iberia is based on a limited number of archaeobotanical studies and on written sources, which despite their undeniable value they often reflect issues related to the elites.
By contrast, archaeology, and more specifically archaeobotany and their associated science-based techniques, are placed in an extraordinary position for approaching issues related to plant production, processing, preparation and consumption, and how these connect to broader societal changes. By integrating archaeobotany and written sources, as well as applying ground-breaking techniques (plant genomics and food remains analyses), MEDAPP aims to disentangle what range of plants were used in Medieval Iberia (6th-11th CE); where new species came from and when were they introduced, who brought them, and how people engaged with them through different practices. The project sets a new holistic agenda for understanding the impact of the new political, economic and social system on agriculture, eating habits and culinary practices of Iberian medieval communities.
This project aims at providing a step-change in the way agriculture, plant production, preparation and consumption have been studied in Medieval Iberia. It represents a golden opportunity to fill the voids of texts, looking for clues in the archaeobotanical record; an occasion to approach, with a suite of scientific and innovative methods, the unspoken information contained in these silences.
Plants were present in almost all aspects of medieval people’s ordinary lives (food, crafts, medicines, etc.). However, they have been commonly sidelined in discussions of the past. Most of what we know about plants in this multicultural period in Iberia is based on a limited number of archaeobotanical studies and on written sources, which despite their undeniable value they often reflect issues related to the elites.
By contrast, archaeology, and more specifically archaeobotany and their associated science-based techniques, are placed in an extraordinary position for approaching issues related to plant production, processing, preparation and consumption, and how these connect to broader societal changes. By integrating archaeobotany and written sources, as well as applying ground-breaking techniques (plant genomics and food remains analyses), MEDAPP aims to disentangle what range of plants were used in Medieval Iberia (6th-11th CE); where new species came from and when were they introduced, who brought them, and how people engaged with them through different practices. The project sets a new holistic agenda for understanding the impact of the new political, economic and social system on agriculture, eating habits and culinary practices of Iberian medieval communities.
This project aims at providing a step-change in the way agriculture, plant production, preparation and consumption have been studied in Medieval Iberia. It represents a golden opportunity to fill the voids of texts, looking for clues in the archaeobotanical record; an occasion to approach, with a suite of scientific and innovative methods, the unspoken information contained in these silences.
MEDAPP is an interdisciplinary research project that brings together archaeology, history, biology, genetics, and textual sources to explore agricultural practices, plant economies, and food systems in the Iberian Peninsula during the medieval period. From its outset, MEDAPP has sought to move beyond traditional archaeobotanical approaches by adopting a holistic perspective that incorporates not only the physical remains recovered from archaeological contexts but also the documentary and discursive material produced by past societies. Its goal is to reconstruct how agrarian landscapes were managed, how resources were cultivated and stored, and how agricultural knowledge was transmitted, adapted, or transformed over time.
To date, the project has investigated around 40 archaeological sites in various Iberian regions, spanning a wide chronological and cultural range—from late Roman rural settlements and Visigothic contexts to numerous Islamic and Christian medieval sites. In most cases, systematic sampling of archaeobotanical remains has been carried out across various contexts, including domestic units, storage spaces, latrines, and notably, unique cliff granaries. These artificial structures carved into cliff faces have provided exceptional preservation conditions, yielding nearly intact desiccated plant remains. These granaries offer unique insights into storage strategies and resource management among medieval communities, particularly during the Islamic period, and shed light on aspects of identity and social organization.
One of the project’s most significant achievements is the identification of several cereal species previously unknown in the medieval record of Iberia. Pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum), a crop of African origin, has been identified for the first time at several Islamic sites along the Mediterranean coast. Similarly, sorghum (Sorghum bicolor) has been found at a site in the Valencia region, marking its first appearance in the Iberian archaeobotanical record. Even more surprisingly, rice (Oryza sativa) has been documented for the first time, suggesting this crop was already cultivated during Islamic phases. These discoveries expand the known diversity of crops and point to transcontinental connections.
Beyond plant remains, the project has placed strong emphasis on integrating textual sources, particularly Islamic legal and notarial documents. The careful study of fatwas (legal opinions) and notarial records has yielded valuable information on crops, land use, irrigation systems, and legal frameworks governing agricultural contracts and resource management. These fatwas are particularly significant, as they reflect real-life cases brought before legal authorities by peasants, landowners, and administrators. The most frequently mentioned crops—cereals, vines, olives, figs, and flax—align closely with the plant remains identified at archaeological sites, reinforcing the reliability of both datasets. This material complements traditional agronomic treatises and offers a more grounded view of rural life and agricultural practices in medieval Iberia.
In Christian northern Iberia, the project has worked with notarial records related to land transfers, sales, and legal proceedings. These documents have revealed the economic value of crops and the presence of food processing and storage infrastructures, such as mills, wine and cider presses, and granaries. The combination of textual and archaeobotanical sources allows a more complete reconstruction of medieval agrarian systems, offering insights into productive strategies, social dynamics, and resource distribution in both Islamic and Christian contexts.
Another innovative component of MEDAPP is the genetic analysis of ancient grape pips. Using ancient DNA (aDNA) shotgun sequencing, it has been possible to identify genetic links between ancient and modern varieties.
The project’s findings have already begun appearing in peer-reviewed international journals, with several more publications currently in preparation.
To date, the project has investigated around 40 archaeological sites in various Iberian regions, spanning a wide chronological and cultural range—from late Roman rural settlements and Visigothic contexts to numerous Islamic and Christian medieval sites. In most cases, systematic sampling of archaeobotanical remains has been carried out across various contexts, including domestic units, storage spaces, latrines, and notably, unique cliff granaries. These artificial structures carved into cliff faces have provided exceptional preservation conditions, yielding nearly intact desiccated plant remains. These granaries offer unique insights into storage strategies and resource management among medieval communities, particularly during the Islamic period, and shed light on aspects of identity and social organization.
One of the project’s most significant achievements is the identification of several cereal species previously unknown in the medieval record of Iberia. Pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum), a crop of African origin, has been identified for the first time at several Islamic sites along the Mediterranean coast. Similarly, sorghum (Sorghum bicolor) has been found at a site in the Valencia region, marking its first appearance in the Iberian archaeobotanical record. Even more surprisingly, rice (Oryza sativa) has been documented for the first time, suggesting this crop was already cultivated during Islamic phases. These discoveries expand the known diversity of crops and point to transcontinental connections.
Beyond plant remains, the project has placed strong emphasis on integrating textual sources, particularly Islamic legal and notarial documents. The careful study of fatwas (legal opinions) and notarial records has yielded valuable information on crops, land use, irrigation systems, and legal frameworks governing agricultural contracts and resource management. These fatwas are particularly significant, as they reflect real-life cases brought before legal authorities by peasants, landowners, and administrators. The most frequently mentioned crops—cereals, vines, olives, figs, and flax—align closely with the plant remains identified at archaeological sites, reinforcing the reliability of both datasets. This material complements traditional agronomic treatises and offers a more grounded view of rural life and agricultural practices in medieval Iberia.
In Christian northern Iberia, the project has worked with notarial records related to land transfers, sales, and legal proceedings. These documents have revealed the economic value of crops and the presence of food processing and storage infrastructures, such as mills, wine and cider presses, and granaries. The combination of textual and archaeobotanical sources allows a more complete reconstruction of medieval agrarian systems, offering insights into productive strategies, social dynamics, and resource distribution in both Islamic and Christian contexts.
Another innovative component of MEDAPP is the genetic analysis of ancient grape pips. Using ancient DNA (aDNA) shotgun sequencing, it has been possible to identify genetic links between ancient and modern varieties.
The project’s findings have already begun appearing in peer-reviewed international journals, with several more publications currently in preparation.
The MEDAPP project has greatly advanced our understanding of medieval agriculture and food systems in the Iberian Peninsula. By integrating archaeobotanical analysis, historical documentation, and genetic sequencing, it has revealed new insights into crop diversity, storage methods, and resource management. Notably, the identification of pearl millet, sorghum, and rice—previously unknown in medieval Iberia—highlights historical trade networks and agricultural adaptation. These findings enrich archaeology and history and show how plants can illuminate human diet, technology, and environmental interaction.
To build on these results, more research is needed to refine ancient crop genetics, expand comparative datasets, and study ecological adaptations. Collaborations with universities and agricultural institutes will enhance interdisciplinary exchange.
Pilot projects could demonstrate ancient crop cultivation and storage practices, linking research with modern sustainable agriculture. These could also serve educational purposes, engaging local communities.
International collaboration with Mediterranean and North African countries could expand MEDAPP’s reach and impact. Public education remains vital: exhibitions have shown their power to communicate research widely. Expanding such initiatives can help connect the past with today’s agricultural challenges.
To build on these results, more research is needed to refine ancient crop genetics, expand comparative datasets, and study ecological adaptations. Collaborations with universities and agricultural institutes will enhance interdisciplinary exchange.
Pilot projects could demonstrate ancient crop cultivation and storage practices, linking research with modern sustainable agriculture. These could also serve educational purposes, engaging local communities.
International collaboration with Mediterranean and North African countries could expand MEDAPP’s reach and impact. Public education remains vital: exhibitions have shown their power to communicate research widely. Expanding such initiatives can help connect the past with today’s agricultural challenges.