Dr Daniel Fuks, Department of Archaeology, University of Cambridge
The food crops we consume daily form a mosaic of global origin. Wheat, barley and lentils were some of the earliest domesticated plants in Southwest Asia over 10,000 years ago, and subsequently spread throughout the world. Since 1492, maize, potatoes and tomatoes have likewise globalised from their American origins. In between these two great historical crop exchanges, and on par with them, were the lesser-known movements of crop plants across the Roman Empire and Early Islamic caliphates in the first millennium CE. Roman agricultural diffusion (RAD) saw crops such as peaches, apricots, dates, melons, rice and black pepper introduced to Britain, while pears, plums, pine nuts, hazelnuts, and white lupin were introduced to Roman Palestine. The Islamic Green Revolution (IGR) saw the introduction of tropical crops like banana, orange, and sugarcane and others into the Middle East and Mediterranean.
Focusing on new archaeobotanical research from the Southern Levant, this talk will consider the evidence for RAD and the IGR, suggesting that the first millennium was an unprecedented period of long-distance crop diffusion.
Science on Sundays
A programme of free, informal, monthly science talks bringing the latest discoveries in plant science, as well as research linked to the plant collection at CUBG to our visitors in a 30 minute nutshell.
We will be running these talks live from the Botanic Garden Classroom for those visiting the Garden on the day.
Free with normal Garden admission.
Please check the website and social media for updates.
Suitable for adults and children aged 12+.
Talks run monthly March to August.
