Ferenc Gyulai

Seed remains of common millet from the 4th (Mongolia) and 15th (Hungary) centuries: AFLP, SSR and mtDNA sequence recoveries

Gyulai, G., Humphreys, M. O., Lagler, R., Szabo, Z., Toth, Z., Bittsanszky, A., Gyulai, F., Heszky, L. (2006). Seed remains of common millet from the 4th (Mongolia) and 15th (Hungary) centuries: AFLP, SSR, and mtDNA sequence recoveries. Seed Science Research, 16, (3), 179-191. Keywords: ancient DNA, excavated seeds, Panicum miliaceum Sponsorship: Hungarian Scientific Research Group OTKA-M-04 563, Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development grant OECD-JA00018642, the USA–Hungarian Fulbright Commission, and a Sze´chenyi Fellowship (SzO- 4/2003).

THE HISTORY OF BROOMCORN MILLET (Panicum miliaceum L.) IN THE CARPATHIAN-BASIN IN THE MIRROR OF ARCHAEOBOTANICAL REMAINS II. FROM THE ROMAN AGE UNTIL THE LATE MEDIEVAL AGE

The domestication of broomcorn millet based on latest archaeobotanical investigations occurred in the arid areas of North China and in same time in Central Asia. The knowledge of cultivation of broomcorn millet the Carpathian Basin before the 6 th thousand BC. Since this time in all archaeological ages are available but in different frequency. Broomcorn millet was a widespread and favoured cereal. Knowing the eating habits of nomadic and semi-nomadic people, this find is expected, as broomcorn millet is a favoured cereal with a short growing season and rapid development requiring relatively little tending. This is expected as broomcorn millet was a key crop for Hungarians in the Middle Ages. A significant amount was grown traditionally by Hungarians through time until the appearance of maize, the new gruel plant. In the second part will be present the history of broomcorn millet in the Carpathian Basin from the Roman Age until the Late Medieval Age.

Plant Based Subsistence Strategy of the Medieval Ishmaelite (12th–13th c.) Population in the Carpathian Basin (NE-Hungary)

ABSTRACT During the excavation carried out at the outskirts of Hajdúböszörmény (NE-Hungary) in 2011, the remains of a 12–13th century settlement were brought to light. Linguistic and historical research has previously presumed that one of the main centres of medieval Hungary’s Muslim (Ishmaelites) population is located in the northern-eastern part of the Great Hungarian Plain. At Hajdúböszörmény–Téglagyár ‘2’ archaeological site several household units were systematically sampled for archaeobotanical analysis. The recovered ceramics differ from the known ceramic production of the Árpád Age, whereas significant differences were detected in the zooarchaeological assemblage, too. The archaeobotanical record, representing 23 features, consists of 2679 items of charred macro-botanical remains that belong to 54 taxa. The record is predominated by the presence of cereals among which rye (Secale cereale L. subsp. cereale) and common barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) are the most frequent. Besides the dominance of cereals, pulses and vegetables, as well as gathered fruit remains were identified. By the comparison of results to other Árpád Age sites, we assume that the revealed ethno-archaeobotanical information identifies a population that used similar plant resources, but in a different way and strategy than the known Christian population of the Carpathian Basin.

The history of broomcorn millet (Panicum miliaceum L.) In the Carpathian-basin in the mirror of archaeobotanical remains I. From the beginning until the roman age

The domestication of broomcorn millet based on latest archaeobotanical investigations occurred in the arid areas of North China and in same time in Central Asia. The knowledge of cultivation of broomcorn millet the Carpathian Basin before the 6th thousand BC. Since this time in all archaeological ages are available but in different frequency. Broomcorn millet was a widespread and favoured cereal. Knowing the eating habits of nomadic and semi-nomadic people, this find is expected, as broomcorn millet is a favoured cereal with a short growing season and rapid development requiring relatively little tending. This is expected as broomcorn millet was a key crop for Hungarians in the Middle Ages. A significant amount was grown traditionally by Hungarians through time until the appearance of maize, the new gruel plant. In the first part will be present the history of broomcorn millet in the Carpathian Basin from the beginning until the Roman Age.

Archaeobotanical overview of rye (Secale cereale L.) In the carpathian-basin I. From the beginning until the roman age

It seems that rye is a twice domesticated cereal. Then, in the course of the Early Iron Age in Central or Eastern Europe, it is again transformed from weed to crop plant. We summarized the development of rye and his spread in the Carpathian Basin based on archaeobotanical data. The grains of the rye were found always in charcoal form. The rye appeared in Carpathian Basin during the Neolithic Age. Sporadic occurrences of rye were also found in Early Bronze Age Bell Beaker-Csepel Group and Early Iron age Scythian cultures. The prehistoric grains were small and longshaped. In the Prehistoric Ages rye should be exist as weed of hulled wheats. His cultivation started in the Roman Age. The grains found in roman sites are always big and reel shaped like recently. Only a few grains were found in the Migration Periode. Among cereals of the conquering Hungarians rye is present. Rye became common product in the Late Medieval Ages. It was grown in a big quantity everywhere, but not independently, but mixed with the wheat.

Plant remains from the early medieval lakeshore settlement Fonyód-Bélatelep (Lake Balaton, Hungary) with especial emphasis on the history of fruit cultivation in Pannonia

During the excavation of an early medieval lakeside settlement at Fonyód-Bélatelep, Balaton (7th-9th century A.D.), remains of cultivated and wild plants were found in the culture layer. The main cereal crops of the Avar culture were Hordeum, Triticum and Secale. Panicum also played an important role. In addition to the cereals, 13 species of fruit trees were present. It appears that fruit cultivation survived from Roman times into the early medieval period.