Title Adaptability and resilience: Farming practices in Lithuania during the Roman Iron Age /
Translation of Title Prisitaikymas ir atsparumas: žemdirbystės praktikos Lietuvoje romėniškuoju laikotarpiu.
Authors Minkevičius, Karolis ; Vengalis, Rokas ; Piličiauskienė, Giedrė ; Pranckėnaitė, Elena ; Račas, Justinas ; Kisielienė, Dalia
DOI 10.15181/ab.v31i0.2664
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Is Part of Archaeologia Baltica.. Klaipėda : Klaipėdos universiteto leidykla. 2024, vol. 31, p. 44-62.. ISSN 1392-5520. eISSN 2351-6534
Keywords [eng] Lithuania ; agriculture ; landscape ; archaeobotany ; stable isotopes
Abstract [eng] This paper integrates archaeological, environmental and isotopic data from Roman Iron Age (1–400 AD) settlements in Lithuania to present an updated framework for understanding the development of farming and agricultural landscapes during this period. The study dates the introduction of new crop species, such as rye and oats, to around 100–200 cal AD. Notably, rye quickly became one of the most economically important crops, coinciding with the adoption of the infield-outfield cultivation system. This system combined intensively farmed fields in open, well-irrigated areas near settlements with more distant swiddens used for extensive farming. Archaeobotanical analysis, along with δ15N and δ13C isotopic measurements of charred crop assemblages, reveals a high level of diversification in both species composition and cultivation strategies. These findings suggest that Roman Iron Age farmers employed complex farming methods aimed at increasing agricultural productivity and expansion while maintaining adaptability and resilience in response to environmental challenges.
Published Klaipėda : Klaipėdos universiteto leidykla
Type Journal article
Language English
Publication date 2024
CC license CC license description