Roman Iron Age Plant Husbandry At Peelo, The Netherlands

Rye (Secale cereale) and hulled barley (Hordeum vulgare) were major crop plants at Roman Iron Age Peelo. Very likely also common oat (Avena sativa) was grown. Broomcorn millet (Panicum miliaceum) and flax (Linum usitatissimum) were of minor importance. No pulse-crop seeds were found. It is not clear whether weed seeds, such as those of Chenopodium album, served for human consumption. As usual, weedy vegetations (of cornfields and ruderal habitats) are well represented in the archaeological seed record. Although a fair number of grassland species has been demonstrated, the grassland acreage in the Peelo area was probably of limited extent.