Spicing up life in northwestern Europe: exotic food plant imports in the Roman and medieval world

Abstract

This research investigates the introduction and trade of numerous exotic food plants across northwestern Europe during the Roman and medieval periods. Data were collected from all available archaeobotanical records on taxa that cannot grow in the study area or which require considerable efforts for their cultivation, together with relevant archaeological information (date, site type, context, status) to put the results in context. The results showed that many true imports were completely absent from archaeological contexts. This was due to a variety of reasons, such as poor preservation and limited access according to economic and/or cultural factors. A number of other exotic spices, fruits, vegetables, nuts and cereals, however, were identified in the study area and period. Analysis of their social, spatial and temporal occurrence indicated that different groups of people had access to these exotics and were responsible for their dispersal in different periods, but despite their fluctuating fortunes, their use remained generally exclusive. This study of exotic food plant imports highlights their value in understanding socio-economic impacts and changes in past societies.