Estudios arqueobotánicos en el Cercano OrienteTell Jamîs y progresos metodológicos en el estudio de las semillas de vid

Abstract

The general objective of this work is the comprehensive archaeobotanical study of a Syrian site on the Upper Euphrates: Tell Jamîs. To achieve this general objective, the following specific objectives have been defined: Analyze and determine the identity, through carpology, of the archaeobotanical record recovered during the excavations in all its chronological horizons belonging to the Ancient Near East (Ancient Bronze, Middle Bronze, Aramaic, Assyrian, Persian and Hellenistic) and place it in the context provided by the archaeobotanical evidence from other similar sites in the Near East. Determine the relevance of the site throughout its occupation and the plant-related activities that could be carried out, especially those of an agricultural nature. At the same time, through the analysis of the habitats, the aim is to obtain an idea of the evolution of the environment throughout the periods studied. To approach, through climate studies, land use patterns and their evolution within the framework of the problem of land salinization in the Near East. Study the morphology of archaeological vine seeds, of which Tell Jamîs and its surroundings offer sufficient remains, and compare them with contemporary material to establish a classification that allows distinguishing wild seeds from domesticated ones, together with the main progeny of Vitis vinifera, evaluating to what extent the data obtained can contribute to the understanding of the origin of the cultivated vines. The methodology used in this study involves the recovery of sediment samples from Tell Jamîs spanning a wide chronological range. These samples were analyzed using flotation techniques and identified at the Paleocarpology Laboratory of the University of Murcia. Additionally, a Bayesian approach was performed for the identification of vine seeds and a data matrix was constructed that includes quantitative and qualitative variables. In the conclusions of the study, the achievement of the general objective of carrying out the comprehensive archaeobotanical study of Tell Jamîs is highlighted. A temporal evolution marked by a maximum peak of activity during the Middle Bronze Age is confirmed, with significant finds such as the presence of a silo full of barley. A change in floristic composition is confirmed since the end of the Assyrian period, and the implications of the presence of saline habitats are discussed. In relation to agriculture, the continuity in the use of certain plant species has been proven throughout the entire chronological sequence of Tell Jamîs, with emphasis on the cultivation of barley. The presence of legumes in the population's diet and its relevance in the context of the storage and redistribution of agricultural products is addressed. Furthermore, the development of a new domestication index for Vitis vinifera - Vitis sylvestris seeds is highlighted, which has made it possible to identify clearly domesticated ancient varieties. The existence of wild vines related to Vitis sylvestris C.C.Gmelin and Vitis caucasica Vavilov is mentioned throughout different chronological periods, together with hybrid seeds and the early detection of "stenosperms" related to seedless grapes of the "sultanina" type. The usefulness of Bayesian methodology in the identification and classification of vine seeds in archaeological contexts is highlighted. In summary, this archaeobotanical study of Tell Jamîs provides valuable information on the agricultural history and environmental evolution in the Upper Euphrates region, contributing to our understanding of the archeology and paleobotany of the Ancient Near East.