Земеделски оръдия от Плиска (IX—XI в.)
Farm implements from Pliska (9th — 11th Century)

Summary/Abstract: Data about all farm implements found so far at Pliska have been collected and published. The only sokha (hook plough) of its kind is shown, 5 ploughshares, one of which tongue-shaped (without side pieces) and 4 two-sided, symmetrical. All of them have a plug by which they could be attached to different types of ploughs. One of the three coulters found at Pliska was quite large. It confirms the supposition that heavy ploughs on runners were used at Pliska with which it was possible to plough furrows up to 0.22 m deep. The picture of land cultivation by ploughing in the first Bulgarian capital is supplemented by 3 (out of a total of 10) goads and the sgraffito of a harrow on wall. Six (out of 12)spadc covers are shown. Part of them were used as ploughshares. The three hoes from Pliska belong to two types, a broad one and two narrow ones with prongs. The collection of implements connected with harvesting is the most numerous. Seven (out of 25) fragmented sickles and 2 scythes are shown, together with 4 (out of 15) reaping hooks. All these implements were found in a phase of occupation dating back to the 10th and the first half of the 11th centuries. An analysis of the sgraffiti on the walls of Pliska show different types of ploughs and iron farm implements: ploughshares, goads, spades, hoes, sickles, reaping hooks and scythes and also the remains of burnt wheat, rye, millet seed and melon seeds, showing that agriculture was one of the branches of mediaeval Pliska's economy. The most effective technologies of that time had been adopted in cultivating the land and bringing in the harvest, connected with the use of different types of ploughs with or without runners, and sickles and scythes of different forms and sizes.

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