This paper presents the results of an archaeobotanical investigation of the Roman shipwreck Torre Santa Sabina 1 (TSS 1), dated to the late 3rd–1st half of the 4th century ce. The wreck lies in the Camerini inlet (Brindisi, southern Italy), at a depth of 2.8 m and only a short distance from the shore. Probably a merchant vessel, the ship was abandoned after beaching and subsequently submerged due to relative sea-level rise. The 2021 excavation revealed the entire hull, along with amphorae, other containers and a wide range of plant macro-remains. Thanks to the thick sediment layer that completely covered and preserved it, this beached wreck, stranded in very shallow water, provided a rare opportunity for the systematic sampling of hull timbers and the recovery of exceptionally preserved organic materials. This integrated bioarchaeological study discusses four categories of waterlogged ecofacts: wooden hull components, rope fragments, fruit and seed remains and archaeoentomological evidence (insect remains) recovered from sediments accumulated in the bilge well. The study identifies the wood taxa used in the construction, providing insights into shipbuilding techniques, timber selection and the possible geographical origin of the raw materials. It also investigates the plant-based foodstuffs transported as cargo or consumed by the crew, as well as possible short- to medium-term preservation practices. Finally, the study explores seasonal indicators derived from the organic remains to reconstruct the timing of the vessel’s final voyage. The analyses revealed a clear preference for softwood (coniferous) for timber used in planking and large structural components, while hardwoods were primarily used for fastenings and highly stressed elements. The archaeobotanical and archaeoentomological assemblages indicate the presence of fruits, nuts, cereals and ground plant-based products, while the occurrence of insect pests of stored products suggests that cereals may have been part of the ship’s cargo. Seasonal indicators derived from branches, fruits and seeds suggest that the vessel’s final voyage most probably took place between late summer and early autumn.
Öland, a large island in the Baltic Sea, is well known for its rich archaeological records from the Migration Period and its well-preserved ringforts. Here, we investigate the agricultural economies at these ringforts and surrounding settlements through a compilation of macrofossil data from previous publications and unpublished material, supplemented by new analyses and radiocarbon dates. Plant distribution and diversity were analysed before and after the dust veil event of 536 ce and by geographical location (northern versus southern Öland) and settlement type (ringforts versus other settlements). Hordeum vulgare (hulled barley) was by far the most commonly found cereal grain on Öland from throughout the Iron Age in all settlement types. Around the Migration Period, the ringforts in southern Öland were associated with a greater diversity of cereal crops, including Avena (oat), Secale cereale (rye) and several Triticum (wheat) species. Following the dust veil event, cereal diversity declined sharply in southern Öland. In northern Öland, however, diversity gradually increased after it, with rye eventually becoming more common.
Archaeobotanists around the world increasingly recognise that, alongside commonly studied materials such as seeds, fruits, wood charcoal, and chaff, archaeobotanical samples also contain fragments of carbonised organic (and sometimes inorganic) matter that vary in shape and often display an amorphous structure. These amorphous charred objects (ACO) are emerging as a novel proxy within the broader field of plant macroremain studies in Archaeology. Recent research has demonstrated that ACOs can yield invaluable information on key aspects of past human life, including diet and cooking practices, the exploitation of “missing” food resources, such as roots and tubers, and the origins of widely consumed foods like bread and beer. However, as a relatively new field of research, the study of ACOs still faces significant methodological challenges, foremost among them the absence of universally accepted analytical procedures, shared terminology, and classification systems. In this paper, we have brought together a group of international experts to address these limitations by creating the first “International Protocol for the Study of Amorphous Charred Objects” in Archaeology (IPSACO 1.0). This protocol is designed to provide both specialists and researchers seeking to become familiar with the study of ACOs with the necessary tools to ensure standardised analysis, description, and interpretation of these materials, regardless of their category, chronology, or geographical context. We regard IPSACO 1.0 as a key step towards establishing a robust methodological framework for the analysis of ACOs in archaeological research. This first version of the protocol is intended as a living document: it will be revised, expanded, and refined over time to incorporate new analytical procedures and tools, and to ensure that data generated in ACO studies is standardised, transparent, and reusable within the archaeobotanical community and beyond.
During the Islamic period (8th–15th centuries ce), the Iberian Peninsula emerged as a vibrant cultural crossroads, where Islamic influence reshaped farming and the economy. Latrines, cesspits and sewers, often overlooked in archaeological investigations, have proven to be rich repositories of organic remains, including seeds and fruits. These materials provide archaeobotanists with valuable insights into the diet, farming practices and biodiversity of the period. This study investigates the presence and diversity of plant remains preserved in Islamic latrines in Al-Andalus in the south of the Iberian Peninsula, a type of context that has been little researched so far. Analysis of these remains offers a unique perspective on daily life, farming and cultural interactions within these communities. This article discusses the plant remains from five archaeological sites in the region dated between the 10th and the 12th centuries ce. The samples yielded over 50,000 remains, including 25 cultivated taxa. Among these, previously unrecorded fruit trees such as Citrus sp. were identified, along with garden plants and spices including carrots, coriander, fennel and cumin. In addition, several wild plant taxa were found, and insect remains including Diptera (flies) and Curculionidae (weevils) were also recovered.
