5.1.2011 The oldest fruit trees on Iberia

Nine years ago, archaeologists investigating a site in Spain came to an interesting conclusion. According to them, the Iberian island is home to the world's oldest fruit trees. They also analysed what people ate in the Middle Ages.

The researchers found that seed samples collected over the years at a medieval archaeological site in the historic old quarter of Hondarribia came from the oldest fruit trees in southern Europe. The research was carried out by an archaeobiological research team from the CSIC (Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Cientificas), led by Dr Leonor Pena-Chocarra.

The scientists analysed the remains of fruit from various fruit trees such as plums, cherries, peaches, sloes, apples, as well as figs, mignonette and grapes. They also examined other nuts that they discovered at the archaeological site mentioned above. They found hazelnuts about walnuts as well as pine kernels, which are very small and currently popular. They were already known in the ancient past, especially to people in North America, China and Russia. In European countries, it is common in Italy, Spain, Portugal and even Switzerland.

As far as cereals are concerned, wheat, barley and oats have been identified. Various pumpkin seeds are also particularly important. While the overall results can be considered relevant to knowledge about nutrition in the Middle Ages, the most significant part concernsof the remains of quince and mignonette found, species hitherto unknown in the Iberian archaeobotanical record. Quince and mignonette were simply eaten in large quantities by people in the Middle Ages.

Thanks to this Spanish region, it has been possible to create one of the best databases of ancient seeds and fruits in Spain or even in the whole of Europe. This is thanks to the fact that the archaeological site of Hondarribia was flooded, which preserved some of the seeds and made them last until today.

We also wrote here: Archaeological News

Archaeologists could simply get an idea of how people actually ate in the Middle Ages. What they ate and to what extent. At the same time, they discovered that the Iberian island is believed to have the remains of the oldest fruit trees in the world, thanks to the climatic conditions here. The scientists also examined old olive trees, which are typical of southern Europe, where they thrive.

Sources: www.dnaindia.com