ANALIZA ARHEOBOTANICĂ A UNUI LOT DE SEMINłE CARBONIZATE PROVENIT DIN “SILOZURILE” DESCOPERITE LA PIATRA CRAIVII
THE ARCHAEOBOTANICAL ANALYSES OF FOUR SAMPLES WITH CARBONIZED SEEDS DISCOVERED IN DACIAN SETTLEMENT FROM PIATRA CRAVII (ALBA COUNTY)

Summary/Abstract: The aim of this paper is to present the archaeobotanical analyses made on four samples recovered from closed contexts discovered on the fifth terrace from Piatra Craivii settlement. These samples were discovered during the archaeological excavations in 1962. After their discovery, they have been kept until recently in museum deposits. For these reasons, we do not know exactly in what context they were picked up. It is worth mentioning that a rectangular sanctuary, a few ritual pits and provisions pits, but also a workshop for iron manufacturing were discovered on the same terrace where the carbonized seeds were found. Based on these facts, it could be proposed that this terrace had two phases of habitation. The analyses of sample seeds (four samples) have offered the following results: three of them belonged to Cerealia family and another one to Leguminosae family. In the following lines, we shall make a short description of them. The seeds from sample 1 were identified as belonging to Secale cereale specie (rye); weight 125 grams, counting 16.500 seeds (Fig. 1). Sample 2 consisted of seeds belonging to Lens culinaris specie (lentil) weight 50 grams, counting 2000 seeds (Fig. 2). Sample 3, weighing 200 grams and counting 15.500 seeds, consisted of seeds belonging to Hordeum vulgare specie (barley) (Fig. 3). The seeds from sample 4 belonged to the same Secale cereale specie (rye) and they were counting 38.000 seeds, having 375 grams weight. Although the weight could appear as light, compared with the number of seeds from each sample, this fact could be explained by the results of the process of carbonization underwent by the seeds. This process caused them to lose the water from their composition. These discoveries come to complete the knowledge about cereals and legumes cultivation in pre-Roman Dacia. They could also suggest commercial relations between communities from Piatra Craivii with those located in the fertile area of Mures Valley.

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