WHAT’S NEW ON THE MENU? PLANT FOOD CONSUMPTION AND TRADE IN ROMAN LATTARA (LATTES,FRANCE)
Channel: European Association of Archaeologists
Date: 02/01/2021

The ancient port city of Lattara (Lattes, France) was founded toward 500 BC and abandoned around the 2nd c. AD. It was established directly on the edge of the stagnum latera mentioned by Pliny the Elder (HN, IX, 8), between the two branches of a small coastal river. It is noteworthy that Iron Age Mediterranean merchants (such as Etruscan or Greek) and local authorities and people founded this trading post in order to protect and regulate exchanges between the Mediterranean maritime space and the Gallic hinterland. This role will be maintained at least during the High Empire, but is it so striking that in previous centuries? Can we answer this question through the analysis of archaebotanical data?

This communication aims to characterise the plant products consumed by the Lattara’s inhabitants during the Roman period (1st c. BC-2nd c. AD) mainly based on the analyses of charred and waterlogged seeds and fruits. These plant macro-remains are the most direct evidence of plant food consumption, as well as of acquirement practices developed: local growing and/or trade. The identification of new plants or plant products (exotic?) will be carried out comparing these archaeobotanical data with those of previous periods, as well as those provided by contemporary cities such as Nemausus (Nîmes), Arelate (Arles) or Narbo Martius (Narbonne). In order to provide comparative data about the possible foreign plants or plant products we will also analyse the origin of amphorae, the main container used to transport foodstuffs preserved in dry archaeological conditions. Archaeobotanical and archaeological data come from different quarters of the city excavated since the early 80’s and partially published. At the same time, we bring new data from the current excavations of the port basin and the channel leading to the city, as well as from the artisanal quarter that borders them.


Author(s): Rovira, Núria (ASM, Archéologie des Sociétés Méditerranéennes - UMR5140, Univ Montpellier 3, CNRS, MCC) - Tillier, Margaux (ASM, Archéologie des Sociétés Méditerranéennes - UMR5140, Univ Montpellier 3, CNRS, MCC; ISEM, Institut des Sciences de l’Evolution - UMR 5554, CNRS/UM/IRD/EPHE/INRAP) - Sanchez, Corinne - Piquès, Gaël (ASM, Archéologie des Sociétés Méditerranéennes - UMR5140, Univ Montpellier 3, CNRS, MCC)