Iron Age cultigen?: experimental return rates for fat hen (Chenopodium album L.)

Stokes, P.; Rowley-Conwy, P.

Iron Age cultigen?: experimental return rates for fat hen (Chenopodium album L.)

Stokes, P.; Rowley-Conwy, P.

Authors

P. Stokes

Professor Peter Rowley-Conwy p.a.rowley-conwy@durham.ac.uk
Emeritus Professor

Abstract

Archaeological finds of fat hen (Chenopodium album L.) from later prehistoric sites in Europe indicate that the plant was deliberately collected, perhaps even cultivated. Experiments are described involving the collection and processing of the plant, allowing the return rate to be calculated. The return rate is probably similar to that of cultivated cereals, which may produce more seed per unit area but require much more processing. Chenopodium album was therefore a viable potential cultigen.

Citation

Stokes, P., & Rowley-Conwy, P. (2002). Iron Age cultigen?: experimental return rates for fat hen (Chenopodium album L.). Environmental Archaeology, 7, 95-99

Journal Article Type	Article
Publication Date	Oct 1, 2002
Deposit Date	Jul 23, 2009
Publicly Available Date	Dec 2, 2009
Journal	Environmental Archaeology
Print ISSN	1461-4103
Electronic ISSN	1749-6314
Publisher	Taylor and Francis Group
Peer Reviewed	Peer Reviewed
Volume	7
Pages	95-99
Keywords	Chenopodium, Return rate, Collection, Processing, Cereals.
Publisher URL	http://www.envarch.net/publications/envarch/vol7.html#9