the oriental institute excavations at mureybiṭ, syria ... · part iii: the paleobotany willem van...

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The Oriental Institute Excavations at Mureybiṭ, Syria: Preliminary Report on the 1965Campaign Part III: The Paleobotanyvan Zeist, Willem

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The Oriental Institute Excavations at Mureybiṭ, Syria: Preliminary Report on the 1965Campaign Part III: The PaleobotanyAuthor(s): Willem van ZeistSource: Journal of Near Eastern Studies, Vol. 29, No. 3 (Jul., 1970), pp. 167-176Published by: The University of Chicago PressStable URL: https://www.jstor.org/stable/543448Accessed: 28-08-2018 12:25 UTC

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THE ORIENTAL INSTITUTE EXCAVATIONS AT

MUREYBIT, SYRIA: PRELIMINARY REPORT ON THE 1965 CAMPAIGN

PART III: THE PALEOBOTANY

WILLEM VAN ZEIST, Biologisch-Archaeologisch Instituut, University of Groningen, Netherlands

INTRODUCTION

IN this report the results of the botanical study of a series of samples collected during the excavation of Tell Mureybit, in northern Syria, will be discussed. This excavation was carried out under the direction of Dr. Maurits N. van Loon in the autumn

of 1965.1 Radiocarbon determinations suggest that prehistoric habitation of Mureybit lasted from ca. 8,050 to 7,550 B.C., when calculated with a C14 half-life value of 5,570 years. With a half life value of 5,730 years these ages are about 8,350 and 7,825 B.C. respectively.

From a total of twenty-two samples, two turned out to be barren of seeds. Most of the samples were made up of charcoal fragments within which greater or smaller numbers of carbonized seeds were present. The carbonized remains had been recovered by means of a flotation technique from large samples of cultural fill taken at various levels by the excavator. The samples, marked "seeds," consisted of charred grains which had been recognized with the naked eye in a section or on a surface. In the spring of 1967, a second series of samples was collected and floated by Mr. S. Bottema and the author. These samples could not yet be studied in the laboratory, but a preliminary check in the field indicated that it is unlikely that they will appreciably change the picture provided by the seed analysis of the samples collected in 1965.

The results of the paleobotanical study are shown in Table 1. In addition to the old and new designations of the excavator, the samples are indicated with a serial number. Only seeds which could be attributed to a family, genus, or species with a fair degree of certainty are listed. A number of seeds could not even be identified tentatively. This is partially due to poor preservation and partially to the fact that the author's seed reference collection is not yet sufficiently representative of the Near East.

The author wishes to express his thanks to Messrs. S. Bottema, W. A. Casparie, R. R. Newell, and H. R. Roelink for their help and co-operation.

WILD EINKORN

Among the charred seeds, those of wild einkorn are the most numerous. Two varieties of wild einkorn can be distinguished, viz. the small Triticum boeoticum Boiss. emend. Schiemann var. aegilopoides (Bal.) Schiemann, which is distributed in the Balkans and

1 M. N. Van Loon, "First Results of the 1965 Excavations at Tell Mureybat near Meskene," Annales archdologiques arabe8 8yrienne8, 16, Part 2 (1966), pp. 211-17; "The Oriental Institute Excava-

tions at Mureybit, Syria: Preliminary Report on the 1965 Campaign. Part I: Architecture and General Finds," Journal of Near Eastern Studies, 27 (1968), 265-82.

167


PLATE XIII

o 5mmm FIa. 1.-CARBONIZED EINKORN FROM MUREYBIT

--

I? : : : : :- ~i~s:::: -- : i?l ?I-II - I ( i - ' - ~:iiiii:- :~ : : : : _--:-: : : :i :- ::-:-~: -::.... :::: i:-::-: :- :-:-_-::---- . ~: :::::::::::-::: - : : -: --

:::: .......- : : :-- --:-:--::-:-----:::::

il-::ii:::iii::i :-iiiiii-iiliaij-i;i:-:i-ii: :-:ii ,.. :il__:::::i_:_:_ :i- :-::.-i-il-i .--.. --i ..-:- II~II:ii ::: ::i-i_-i:: ---

i .. -iiiiiiii:?iii'~ I .-. - - -: :-:-':-: :- : ?::i:: :.... ::::i:- -: -- -' :: ii-iii-::iiji_-i i . iii--:ri:iiiiji-i-i:;iiliii-iiiiiiiiii_ ii:-i;i - i::::-_ii:-:i-: ::::::-- :i- :_: ii -il-ii--i:I-i-iiiiiiiiiii i:i:i--:~i-i-i-i-s-i:i :::::: :: :: :: : : ''-i:i-i::i~li -:-----:::-::;:-:ii:i-ii--_--_i:i-i-iii- ':'-':''::i-:-:--"''''':':--'i:::i'i:'i -i:i-i-i-i-i:i-i-iiiii i-i:;ii:ii-iiii-i:i-i-::-: --:i:i-i-- i: iii:_:ii:i:::::i-: ::i::-::::::- ..:. ...: :i -i--:: : ::::::::::::::::: ::::::::::::::: ::-i:i:-:i:i:_-?-::::il:i-l_:-iil:--;ii: --.-.- i-i:-:i:::i-

--:--:--: :-::-:---i:iiiiiii": ::ajiji -----i:::-: i- I:'i'':-i:i-iii-''"':-.1-.: :-:-'-ii:riiii-il:?::iiii-ii -iiiiiiiiiii:iiili .:.-.- ii i:--::: ::.:: :-:::i-i---i:-: :-i : -: i i_ iiiiiiii ::.: :ii :ii -: -?:i : i-i_ .... .. -:-. --:-- i -:-_ii_ i ::: ::;:: -:.:-_I- i- i.: .: ...- I---i I: :ii :.. ii:_ ::ii-i-_iiiiiW --'-"-"':' '- -' ':'--'-'--'-'-' : :: ...:. : : ?' ':' '-"-"-; : :: i iiiiiiiiiii:i:ii-i~ iii --- ii ii-::?ii:_iiiiil,- '--

: :--i::--i-i: ii ii:i:i i:-i:i i ii-i---:-i~iii: i iii_-ii :i_:: .::--;'" -i'? ~:iii- _i:i-i:,:i;iii:i:iiii:i-i~i:i:ii ; iiii i:~ i li-i:-,i-~--:i: :-_ ::-:-::i-::_-i-i-i-i-i-i:i:i:i:i-i -i:ii-ii-i-::--:::::-:i-:-::-i-::--::--:

i:i i:i:i i-i-ii~iiii:i-ici:i--i-i-i:-i-ij.i~ ..-.- i--: ii -- ii:iii iiiii:iii?iiii:i?iii iiii- -i-i:;:i-ii:-i-i-i-i -ii-i-ii-;-i: iii: a i-i -:-:--i-i :::?-_ :- - I i -: i -iiiiiii iiii :: i iii : iii iii ,-i: -- i-i -:... .. ---::-: ?:::-::::::--- - -::: -i:iiiiiiiii:.iii:-ili::i, i:i:ii~iiii:i i: --i" i iii --_?-i- : :i_ ..:. ii iiiii-iiiiiii -i: i :.:?;?iiig?~a i-iiiiiiiiii ii: -i iiiii -ii-- -i? i iii~i-:---i:_

-:: i-i:-:iiiiii:iiii:iiii~iiiiiiigi:lii ::::::i:i::::iiiii iiiii; ..-...- ii:: -iiii~iiiii:---i-i-i-:- -::-::-::-_-:--i;i:iiiii~i~iiiiiiii~iii; :i:i:?:i:i:i:i:_li:i'~-:--------?----:-- -:-:::::;~i-:~I:1-sa;-- --- ; ; : ;;-?----:-`*-i:'"i : ?~_~_~.*i_:.:;I _iiiiiii : _i- :: i: :_ _ _ i:i-:::ilii:-iiiiii-'-'''':?'?-I I-:!:i I: i ::ii - iii ii i?i -i:iii- -i -.....: ii i: iiii-ii:i-iii-i-:i-i-:s'i::i'i'i'iiiiii I ...-.. - : ..: ii-i I~:.::::'$ .z- - -- --:------:::-::-:-

-''''':: ''--'---:'I''':':- -S----_:-:lir i ii-:i:-iiiiii:iii::i: i?::-::-i-_ii:i:-i-i-::- i-- ~' 'ii--i-i:iii-i,:i-i:`i:i-iii-ili-i:i:: -:::::I ::...:. : - .. ::::::::::::::: :-':--::::-:?-::- -::: :-::::::::-i:i:_iiliiii:--i----i-_:i-- :-::-:i::ii:: i:---::-----:ii-i:i-i-i:-i- - iii::ii:ii-::iiiiiiiii~ii;i-iiiiiii~ii i::-iii-li-e:-ii:iii:---i::--i::i--i ai:iiii6

i::i:i:i-i-i-i::::- ::::::::::.: :j::::::::?::::::::;::::::: ::::::i::ii--iii i'i;:: /iiiiii:i -I:-ii--i-i: -i-~l - _i-i:.il-i .. I-- iii::: ~i-ij :--:i - i: -::-: ii iii ~- .:... -i-: . I:i i i-::::::i: ---- . -i-ii-'ii: i--iiii-iiiii-ii :ii-----i-ii-ii:-'--ili: --i---:?ii--i-- i I:- II :-': :::-':::-:-:-'- :':- - '----:--:?---"::: -.------- :::-: . : :::::"-i--i--iii ii--s---ii--~-:: I~i: i::i:- :-- :ii: I: - i I - - :--:`:-llriil-_-_-: iiiiii-i--:ii i:ii-i-i--i-i-i:i ? _?--i:i:_ ........ :;::- :: -:-i i

:-:- :: :: --- ::----:--: -:- : ::::: _: ::--- : :: ::-__- :: :_ - -.-:: : ::----; :: : : ::- _ :: I - i;i-l :: -- :: -i- ii-ii--i-iiiiiijiiii iiiijiiiii iiiii:ii:i --ii;-i:i :: .:.---. -:i : :- : : ::: i- :-:- ----: --;- :: :- :: ':?---':'--liiiiii i- ii:.:: _j:_:_:::::-:: :: : ii: iiiiiiii-i::- :-ii__i:iiiiiiiii-:iiiiiiiii::iiiii: : :.-.... :i-:ii:-?il::ii~:i:iiiii:ii:-i~~::i:ii iil-ili~_iiii---i:i-i:i:i- ~i::l-iii:i-ii: iiii:-- --::--::::-::--:--: :-i:i-i:--::---i--: --i--:-:-:::--

-',ls:l;_:ii-:i-:c:-:?- :::i:lii::-~-'~.ll-:ii lll?il-:i'--il:-i -~-ci-i-ili-i--~-i-ii-::?-:ri:-j _lii-iii-i:i:-:i'~i------:- ...... ii,:i::i--:'-:i~i:i i-~ii.iili?r:i:i-:i~_-:iiiiii-_iiiii iii-ii::ii.i:iiiii :-iii-iiiiiiiiiiiiiisii sliiii:ii:ii:i:-::?:::?:~i ........ :: : : : ::: :-: -:_ ::: ::::::: : :: : ::: :--: :-::- :: --. iiii:-:ii:iiiii-,. -:--_-----::-::::-: :::::---:i-i:ii:--i.-r:?i-i-ri-i-iii:~il iiiiii :iiiiiiiiiii-ii-li:i::ii ::::-::l::-::i-i-ii-iiiiiiiii -i:i -.... i:--il--:iii:i -i-i~:_i:i-i li:i~ii:i;-::i --?-------: iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii i--i-ii:i-i-i--~i:i i-i-:?ii:i-i:-i:i- :::? :::::::::::: --.-. -i-i -ii-i-_:-:?i:i: ..-...--:a : -: .- - : :::::: ::: -: I:-: i: : ::_ : -i i-i:i i:i- -i-i .: i-i i-ii iii ~::i:i- i-i i-i iii ...:.: -i-i- iii ii- --i ii .. i-i :.. -:-- -:-: -: .-: -:: -i :- iii -i .:.::_ r_ ::... iii:iii iiiiii:ii iii iiii iii iiiiiiiiiii,_-::_:i::-i . i:- -iili -i - i:~: ii - : -:--- - :-::: :::-: i - ::

_i;-i:~_: i iii :- iii ii .. iiiiiiii:ii:ii iii i -iiii::i::ii-i - -i- - ii: :: : -: - : :I .---.:.- iii -i?:ii,8:_l-iiiii:iiiiiiiii:-iiiiiii~: - -:: . :: -111~,.~1:1,-~:::-ii-(i-ii----: i:: :: -:-:::-:::::::::: ::::::::::::::: -iiiii iii ii i: i?i~ii-i: :.:- -i-i-i:i_--:j::::: ::::::iii -i;iiii;-iiiiiii i::i: -_:i---i--i: :i-i-j:-i.i:;:::::::;I:;: : ::: ::.. :::::::::-:_::: :::: ?::;::- -::: ::: i: :j:: :: :: :::::-

: ii-i I::I-' i~:ii~iiiii:-ii--::?::--'-iitiisisi-li i-i-i-:i:~ i?---i---?:;ii~-i-i-E-i:i- i~i-i.--i-i-i: -i:i-~-i-i- ii-i-;i:i-i:i i--i:i--i~ii-;:i-i i--i----lii:-~:?. -il-l~-: i:: --: il::-:lli-ii- --ii:-:-- iii :i i-iiii:iiil-iiiiii-iiii:iiii::i:i:iiik -. :- -:_: _: :.:: -:? -. : . : - :-i--:i- :i-i-~: -i:i-i-i- 8i-i'i-i I -ij :....-:.__ : - -i-i:i-i: -i--i":;-_-iil --i i i -:_ i - . ii ili;:;:i_ :.:..:. ..:.:.:. : i :i-i:, : iiiiiiii:-i -i:i-~i:-` : :

i : iil-i-: -i- i : .: --_ i :

-i-iiiiii_-iiiii:? -'-i_--:-li:- ' :-':: -:- :: -:- -:i- -::-::?-: - -:: --:-:-- -": --ii:li-:_ii_:i:_:- i-::-ii:ii!iii:- i:::i--: i-iiii~i-i''-i iii:l:-i-::i:i- :: :::::::::-::-:::::: :-:,:?:::::.::: :i:::: ::::::_:-:I::-:?-: ii:-l_;ii:-_i:-l--l--_i':i---:_i~ii:i-i i;:;:,i:_iri:: -i-: -i--:iiiiiiii--:-~~:-:-:ii~:-:l::-i~:iiiii~iii-ii il:ii--i-i-i -i:i;i:: :::::::::: :' : - :---- -I::i-:--i-i-i:ii:i:::::::::1: ..:.. iiiiiiii':----:--::'-:-: ;- ~iil:-iii-i:-:ai:,iiiiiiii;iis-i?;l:_:- - '-'-"" -::-:: i-:_:-ii-l:'"::':':' ::':: -i i:- i-i::-i--:-l:il:lil:::i~ :i-~.ii::~i---l I:---

:: :: :::::::::::::::?:: .:.. ....-.-.. ::::---:--:-:-:::::; _iiii iii iiiii-iiii?i ii -:?::---:: -ii i- : i: -- -ii-i:i--i-i--? -i iiii:ii :-~i-iii:: i - : -- i:iii:- :: ::: ? :. --- : -- :--

--iii iiiiiiii-,;iisi-iii?:':i--i: -- -- _ilii-?ii;-~---: ---:? -::--:::::::-i 'i"i:? :--:- ::-- :_?___-~:_: 1::::::;::::.:::::::::::::::::j:-: -::-i--ii-il-i:; -iii-_iiiiiiii~iiiii~ii: -i~l . -: -:~----.- :::iiiiii~iilitiiiiiiii ::-:::-:~:-:;::-::-:::::-::-::::::::: :: ?:---:::--:-:-:-:::::::-_:::_:-_-::---:- :. ?i:-i:i-i:i-:-i:ii:--; .-: -:-:-- --.*...._ :-:-::_:-:-:-; - :::: :::::: :: :::::: __-:: ... ..-.

-: :-_ - ~:iii:i:iiiiii-iiiiiiii:ii-i :i: : -:- ': iffr~i--:i-i-i-i-i-i:::- iii :

- i -:i--_i-ii-:i:i--?i-,-i i:i ii:iiii : ii::iiiiiii;-:;ii-ii-i-,iii iii-i-i:i:i:~-i i-;:i:i--':::--l:t:~-s: -:-:--:-----:-__ ;-iaisi:-;'i:ii~i---:~i5::j ;8--:iii-::i::_-i: :--:: -:::::- -- i-:i-i-i~:i--lil--- Zi::

:iiiiiii-i-i:i:i-ti-i:i-i-i-i- -~_-il'l':r':'s::'iii-ii----:i i--i:-:i-i :ii--:i--:i-i-i:l?i:i i . .. ii::;'-::-:-;i:i:--ilii-i:ii::li?i -_:::_i~_ii i-iijiFiii~iiiliii-:i~:i-: : :::::- :---::-: :-: ::: :: :I-l:-h--i-':-~:-i~:-i:-::-i i-idiiii:i:i-iii-ili-:i~:i-i~i.i-i:iiii ii---::-::ii.--iii -i__iiiiii-i ...:-.. -i --:i 'li-:_i_ - ~iili-i:iii ... i-i :i.:-ii:i-i--i::i-i-i-i--i:i:-ii-:i -:-:-i::-::::::::: -::::::::: :::-::::::::::::::: :- - -:- - - : " ': '" ''-'-iii:i:i-i:i- -:i:iiiii:i:i:i-i-ii-i-iii;:--: : i ... iii i- i?ii-iiiiiii :-:-- -: --:: --:- - ::-:::iiiii:ii!i-i i-ii:~ii:iii:i-::i:i:iii iiiiiiiiiiii iii .. -:iii-i-ii-i-iiiiiiiiiiiiiii_ :--:-.::: _ .:::: . :i- i:iiiiiil--:l;ii i i--iii:ii -:_: i iiiii ::.: . iiiii:iii iii : iii .. -iii i-i iii i:i iiiiiii_ . I --: -iii:i:: -:::-:-:::::::-::i: -:'::. .:..:. i:i:i: :: iii i-i -_ iii ii iii ::i ii ii il_~iiiiiii iiiiiiii iii iiiiii iii iii iii ii . - _-- :-::_::_::::::-: -: :?::::_-::_:

I: i:i iiii iii i?i::;--:' ii ii-i 'ii-: :;'-'''- -': --' ii::s-:/_i~iiiiii. iii i iii i:iiii-i-i:-: -:-:-:: -::: -:::.: ii:i-i-,i--'- -:-:- -: :- :: :: :::::::-:::: :- :::--::--:--:-- :i ----i:i?i ?iiiii- :i_-'-i-i-:i:ili-~:::::/--:i:~-:ii:-ii ::::_:-:-:::: -?:_:-:j---i-_~i-i-i:iii ii-i~?iii-i:i,:i~i:,ii;iiii:i-iiiiiiii :i-i_._i:ii:i-i-i:--_si~iiiiiiii:iii~i --i: i;iiiii-iiiii-iii-iiii~i-iii;iiiiiiiii-j :::: -:-:::::- :::_:-:-:-::::::::: : _iiiiiiii:ii~:iii ::i:-iiilii;-ii~:iiiii-:---_:ji-i:i-izi H~:?i::,i~~i-:i~~~i:i;:~:-jr~:iii--:l:: ?:?::I;::,~::?--:::::?::~:~:;:~:::::.i: :I:l-:~?-::i:, :- _:_-_iii-::ii-iiiiiiii-:::: i:i:~_iii:-i:i:Wi~i- :::::::::::-_::_:::_:_:-:.;_:-_:_:-:_, :::_,:_:,:-:::- _"_'_'_'::-:-_i':- '. :.::: : ::::-:::::j:::: ?:?'.::: :_--:--

FIG. 2.-LEFT: Polygonum CF. VENANTIANUM. RIGHT: Astragalus SPEC.


TABLE 1. CARBONIZED SEEDS FROM MUREYBIT

Sample number 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 New designation: Operation P 29 Q 29 Q 29 Q 29 Q 29 Q 30 Q 29 Q 28 R 27 R 27

Stratum II-V VIII-X VIII-X XI XIII- XIII- XIV XV XV XV XIV XIV

Old designation II II II II II II II I VI ? VI NW? NE? NE ~NE NE ) SE ) NEb F @ C

Triticum boeoticum var. thaoudar 1 ca. 1250 ca. 450 ca. 3 ca. 3 ca. 75 c- ca. 1 1

Hordeum 8pontaneum 1/3 ca. 9 - 6 2 4 21 3/4 1/3 1i Setaria spec. - 1 -- 1 -- 2 - - 1 Bromus spec. - - 1 - - Gramineae indet. 2 2 - - 1 - - - 1 - Lens cf. nigricans - - - 2 ca. 6 1 - 3 ca. 6 Vicia ervilia - - - 1 3 - 1 Astragalu8 spec. div. 3 - - - 1 1 4 1 21 3 Leguminos8ae indet. - 1 - 5 2 - - 1 Fragments of Pi8tacia - 1 - 2 - 2 2 Polygonum cf. venantianum 19 5 - 3 6 2 18 3 ca. 65 ca. 40 Polygonum spec. - - - - - - - - Silene spec. 4 - - 1 - 23 8 Chenopodiaceae - 1 - - - - 3 - 1 1 Galium spec. - 1 - 1 1 - - Micromeria type - - - 4 Papaver spec. - - - - - - - - 1 - Carex spec. - - - - 2 - Juncuz cf. bufoniu8 - many - -

03

01

t7i2

H1

wl


Sample Number 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 New designation: Operation R 29 R 28 R 29 X 40 X 41 Q 29 Q 30 Q 30 Q 30 Q 30

Stratum XVI XVI- XVII- Structure Structure VIII-XII XI-XII VIII-XII X XI-XII XVII XVIII 23 23

Old designation VII I VI VI IV V #1 #2 #3 #4 #5 G [ il 9 [-] seeds seeds seeds seeds seeds

Triticum boeoticum var.

thaoudar 1 1 1/3 g ca. 50 12 - 5 3 Hordeum spontaneum 2j - 1 - 1 5 21 3 ca. 2 ca. 1 Setaria spec. - - - - 1 - - Bromuw spec. - - - Gramineae indet. 1 - - 1 - -

Lens cf. nigricans 1 - - - - - - - - Vicia ervilia - -

Astragalu8 spec. div. - - - 1 1 - - Leguminosae indet. 2 - 1 l - - - - Fragments of Pi-tacia - - - 1 - - Polygonum cf. venantianum 4 - 8 3 11 - - Polygonum spec. - - - - Silene spec. 2 - 1 - 1 - - Chenopodiaceae 1 1 - - 3 - - Galium spec. 1 - - - 1 - - Micromeria type - - 1 - - Papaver spec. - - - - Carex spec. - - - - Juncus cf. bufoniuw - -

0

w

H

H

H

0

0

w o

5


0 , 5mm FIG. 3.-Triticum boeoticum var. thaoudar from Mureybit

1OOxThickness % Breadth 20

15.

%110 30 Length

80 85 90 95 100 105 110 115 120 125 130 135

20

20- 1OOxLength

15 Breadth is 10

4.0 4.4 4.8 52 5.6 60 mm M2o 300 320 340 360 380 400 420 440 460 480 50 520

FIG. 4.-Frequency distribution graphs for the length, the L: B index, and the T: B index of Mureybit wild einkorn (number of measured specimens is 100).


ORIENTAL INSTITUTE EXCAVATIONS AT MUREYBIT 171

western Anatolia, and the much larger var. thaoudar (Reut.) Schiemann, which is found in southeastern Turkey, in Iran, and Iraq.2 In Tr. boeoticum var. aegilopoides generally one seed develops in a spikelet, whereas the spikelets of the var. thaoudar are, as a rule, two-seeded.

The carbonized wild einkorn from Mureybit belongs to the two-seeded variety thaoudar. Among the more than 1800 specimens, not one grain characteristic of a one-seeded spikelet was found. In contrast to the grains of the one-seeded wild einkorn, those of the two-seeded variety are not laterally compressed. The slender seeds (Figs. 1 [on P1. XIII] and 3) are spindle-shaped, showing the greatest breadth in the middle of the grain, while the ends are more or less pointed. The dorsal and ventral sides are lon- gitudinally straight or slightly curved.

From Sample 2, 100 complete specimens have been measured. As the radicle point on most of the grains had not been preserved this was not included in the measurements. The results of the measurements are represented in Table 2 and in Fig. 4, which shows

(100 x length\

the frequency distributions for the length, the L: B index bre1adh ], and the T: B

index .(10btreh in Table 2 shows likewise the average dimensions of twenty modern grains of Triticum boeoticum var. thaoudar grown in the experimental garden of the Institute of Plant Breeding at Wageningen (the Netherlands). In the latter measurements, the radicle point and the hairs at the upper end of the grain are not included.

The charred grains are smaller than the modern specimens. Moreover, it is striking that the average thickness of the carbonized grains is only slightly larger than the average breadth, whereas modern specimens are distinctly thicker (higher) than broad. This phenomenon has very likely been effected by the carbonization. In this connection

0 3mm

FIG. 5.--Cross-sections of seeds of Triticum boeoticum var. thaoudar. Upper row: three pairs from spikelets of modern grains. Middle row: carbonized grains with protruding ventral side. Lower row: carbonized grains with intruding ventral side.

2 J. R. Harlan and D. Zohary, "Distribution of Wild Wheats and Barley," Science, 153 (1966), 1074- 80.


172 JOURNAL OF NEAR EASTERN STUDIES TABLE 2

DIMENSIONS AND INDICES FOR CHARRED Triticum boeoticum var. thaoudar FROM MUREYBIT AND FOR MODERN SEEDS OF THIS SPECIES

L B T L:B T:B

charred seeds N = 100 min. 3.8 0.9 1.0 286 78 aver. 4.83 1.30 1.33 376 103 max. 6.0 1.6 1.7 518 133

modern seeds N = 20 min. 4.7 1.05 1.3 311 85 aver. 5.77 1.47 1.62 401 112 max. 6.65 2.0 2.0 486 152

one can refer to Hopf,3 who studied the influence of carbonization on the dimensions of wheat and barley grains. For cultivated two-seeded einkorn (Triticum monococcum L.) she found a decrease of the length by 5 per cent, an increase of the breadth by 29.5 per cent and an increase of the thickness by 4 per cent after carbonization. In two-seeded wild einkorn the two grains in one spikelet are not completely identical. As is shown in the cross-sections of modern grains in Fig. 5 (upper row) one of the grains has a protruding and the other an intruding ventral side. The same dimorphism can be observed in the Mureybit charred grains (Fig. 5, middle and lower row). In carbonized grains this difference is generally less clear than in modern specimens. Since through carbonization the grain dilates in breadth, the difference between protruding and intruding ventral side becomes less pronounced and can even disappear entirely. The large numbers of wild einkorn seeds in a few samples suggest that this wild crop played an important part in the diet of the prehistoric inhabitants of Mureybit. At present wild einkorn is not found in the plain of northern Syria, but it grows in extensive stands in southeastern Turkey, at elevations between 600 and 2,000 m.4 If about 10,000 years ago the climate of northern Syria was cooler and moister than to-day, wild einkorn could have grown in the vicinity of Mureybit. However, the scarce palynological evidence presently available for the Near East does not support such a hypothesis. The results of the palynological study of lake sediments in the Zagros Mountains of western Iran suggest that during the upper part of the last glaciation the climate in that region was cooler and dryer than at present. After about 12,000 B.C. temperature as well as precipi- tation would have increased, but it was not until about 4,000 B.C. that humidity reached modern levels.5 If the Late-Pleistocene climatic succession in the plain of northern Syria was comparable to that in the mountains of western Iran, wild einkorn would not have been present in the vicinity of Mureybit around 8,000 B.C. Consequently, it is likely that this species was harvested in the adjacent part of Turkey, at a distance of at least 100 to 150 km. from this site. This would imply that the inhabitants of Mureybit were not wholly sedentary, but that in late spring and early summer they stayed in more northerly regions.

That wild einkorn could have contributed essentially to the economy of food gatherers is demonstrated by Harlan.6 On the strength of his experiments in harvesting wild einkorn this investigator arrived at the conclusion that under favorable conditions a

3 M. Hopf, "Botanik und Vorgeschichte," Jahrbuch des R6imisch-Germani8chen Zentralmuseum8 Mainz, 4 (1957), 1-22.

4 Harlan and Zohary, loc. cit. 5 W. Van Zeist and H. W. Wright, "Preliminary

Pollen Studies at Lake Zeribar, Zagros Mountains,

Southwestern Iran," Science, 140 (1963), 65-67; W. Van Zeist,, "Late Quaternary Vegetation History of Western Iran," Review of Palaeobotany and Palynology, 2 (1967), 301-11.

6 J. R. Harlan, "A Wild Wheat Harvest in Turkey," Archaeology, 20 (1967), 197-201.


0 a.. mm

FIG. 6.-Hordeum spontaneum from Mureybit

Imm

FIo. 7.-Setaria spec.


174 JOURNAL OF NEAR EASTERN STUDIES

family group could have gathered enough grain to cover the yearly consumption in about three weeks.

WILD BARLEY

Wild barley (Hordeum spontaneum C. Koch) is represented in most samples by small numbers of complete or broken seeds. Characteristic of the seeds of Hordeum spontaneum are the flat dorsal side, the comparatively small thickness, and the more or less angular cross-section (Fig. 6).

Only eight charred wild barley seeds turned out to be suitable for measurement (Table 3). For comparison the dimensions of ten modern seeds of wild barley collected in the mountains west of Damascus have been taken. It is likely that the modern wild barley, the grains of which are much larger than the Mureybit ones, belongs to the race which, according to Harlan and Zohary,7 is characterized by extremely large seeds and which is abundant in southwestern Syria and in nothern Jordan and Palestine.

After carbonization, the average dimensions of the modern wild barley grains from Table 3 had changed to 7.67, 2.90, and 1.90 mm., respectively. This demonstrates that

TABLE 3

DIMENSIONS AND INDICES FOR CHARRED Hordeum spontaneum FROM MUREYBIT AND FOR MODERN SEEDS OF THIS SPECIES

L B T L:B T:B charred seeds N = 8 min. 3.8 1.5 1.0 252 61

aver. 5.44 1.89 1.26 290 67 max. 6.7 2.1 1.6 372 76

modem seeds N = 10 min. 8.3 2.5 1.2 295 48 aver. 9.20 2.84 1.55 325 55 max. 10.4 3.2 1.8 357 64

carbonization of barley grains can cause a considerable decrease in length. Consequently, it is not unlikely that the original length of the Mureybit barley may have amounted to about 6.5 mm. instead of 5.44 mm. on an average. The thickness of the Mureybit barley would have increased appreciably through carbonization. The Mureybit wild barley could have originated from the vicinity of the site, although it would never have occurred there in large stands. On the other hand, wild barley is common in the foothills and mountains of southestern Turkey, so that it could have been harvested there, just as with the wild einkorn.

OTHER GRASSES

In addition to wild einkorn wheat and barley, small numbers of other Gramineous seeds were found in the Mureybit samples. One type, which is shown in Fig. 7, has been identified as Setaria (foxtail grass). The average length, breadth, and thickness of four charred Setaria caryopses, which could be measured, amounts to 1.5, 0.95, and 0.55

7Harlan and Zohary, op. cit.


ORIENTAL INSTITUTE EXCAVATIONS AT MUREYBIT 175

mm., respectively. Further, one Bromus (brome grass) seed could be determined in Sample 3. In Table 1 the other grass seeds are indicated as Gramineae indet.

LEGUMES

Lentil is present in various samples. The minimum, average, and maximum diameter of twenty seeds amounts to 1.8, 2.32, and 2.9 mm., respectively. For wild lentil (Lens nigricans Gods.) a diameter of 2-3 mm. is reported, whereas cultivated lentils are on an average larger than 3 mm. Consequently, it is likely that the Mureybit lentils belong to the wild species.

Very probably more than one Astragalus species is represented. The size of the carbonized milk vetch seeds, two of which are shown in Fig. 2 (P1. XIII), right, varies from 1.3 x 1.45 to 2.25 x 2.55 mm. Various Astragalu8 species are presently found in the Mureybit area. Flannery8 reports that at Ali-Kosh, in the plain of southwestern Iran, many seeds, including Astragalus, were recovered, and that those seeds must have been collected intensively by the inhabitants of that site.

A few seeds of bitter vetch ( Vicia ervilia [L.] Willd.) have been determined. Of various leguminous seeds the genus could not be identified because of poor preservation (Leguminosae indet.). The shape and size of some resemble Pisum (pea).

OTHER SEEDS

Seeds of knotweed (Polygonum) occur in many samples, occasionally even in larger numbers. The shape of most knotweed seeds has been affected seriously by the carbonization. On the basis of a few specimens which are not or only slightly swollen (Fig. 2, left), the Mureybit knotweed seeds are attributed to Polygonum venantianum Clem. (= P. arenarium Waldst. et Kit.) with some reserve. The charred, triquetrous seeds are 1.2 to 1.6 mm. long.

The disk-shaped catchfly (Silene) seeds show a surface pattern of radially arranged ribs and warts. The greatest diameter of these seeds varies from 0.6 to 0.9 mm. It is striking that in Samples 9 and 10, Polygonum as well as Silene display the greatest numbers.

The Chenopodiaceae include a few seeds of the Chenopodium album L. (fat hen) type. The Galium (bedstraw) seeds from Mureybit vary in greatest diameter from 1.0 to 1.35 mm.

Special mention should be made of the occurrence of a large numberof seeds of Juncus cf. bufonius L. (toad rush) in Sample 2. As a result of the carbonization these seeds, which are about 0.4 mm. long, are baked together in lumps of hundredls of specimens. The fact that this seed-type is so numerous in this one sample suggests that in spite of its extremely small size it was collected intentionally.

Small nut fragments of Pistacia (pistachio) were met with. To-day Pistacia atlantica Deaf. grows in the mountains of central Syria,9 while P. ckhinjuk Stocks and P. atlantica Deaf. var. kurdica Zohary (= P. eurycarpa Yalt) are native in southeastern Turkey.'o

8 K. V. Flannery, "The Ecology of Early Food Production in Mesopotamia," Science, 147 (1965), 1247-56.

9 H. Pabot, "Rapport au gouvernement de

Syrie sur l'6cologie v6g6tale et ses applications," FAO Rapport No. 663 (Rome, 1957).

'O P. H. Davis, Ed., Flora of Turkey, Vol. 2 (Edinburgh, 1967).


176 JOURNAL OF NEAR EASTERN STUDIES

CHARRED WOOD

In addition to the seeds, the charred wood has been studied under a stereo preparation microscope at between twelve and fifty magnifications. The majority of the charcoal turned out to be of Populus (poplar). Also, Tamarix (tamarisk) and Fraxinus (ash) could be identified. In prehistoric times, the valley of the Euphrates and the islands in the river would have been covered by a poplar forest in which tamarisk, ash, and perhaps a few more tree species were represented. Summarizing, it can be stated that crops were not grown by the prehistoric inhabitants

of Mureybit. On the other hand, they did gather seeds, among others two-seeded wild einkorn, wild barley, and legumes. It is likely that most of the seeds were not collected in the Mureybit area but in the foothills and mountains of southeastern Turkey.


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