Abstract

The discovery of a storeroom full of barley and other cereals (L.9512) in the proto-historic site of Ebla has provided a unique opportunity to study the centralized storage system of the early city-state from a different perspective. Epigraphic evidence available within the site reveals a complex system of taxation which included gathering grain tributes from satellite sites and redistributing semi-finished products such as flour. In this paper, we intend to explore the possibilities of a combined approach to studying the storage system, based on estimated barley grain volumes and delta C-13-delta N-15 analyses. This approach is used to distinguish between grain from different harvesting sites and to identify any grain cultivated using special agricultural practices (e.g. manuring or irrigation). The basic assumption for this kind of analysis is that the growth-site conditions, natural or anthropogenic, of harvested cereals are reflected in their grain size and delta C-13-delta N-15 values. Since the remains found in the storeroom were charred, the first task was to evaluate the effect of carbonization on the delta C-13-delta N-15 and the size of the grains. Thus, the effect of charring was tested on modern samples of Syrian barley landraces. Once it had been ascertained that fresh grains reduced to charred remains retain their original biometric and isotopic traits, the ancient material was examined. Thirteen groups were identified, each characterized by a specific average volume and specific carbon and nitrogen values. The analysis revealed that what had first appeared to be a homogeneous concentration of grain was in fact an assemblage of barley harvested from different sites.

Autore Pugliese

• Caracuta Valentina , Fiorentino Girolamo

Tutti gli autori

• Fiorentino G. , Caracuta V. , Casiello G. , Longobardi F. , Sacco A.

Titolo volume/Rivista

RAPID COMMUNICATIONS IN MASS SPECTROMETRY

Anno di pubblicazione

2012

ISSN

0951-4198

ISBN

Non Disponibile

Numero di citazioni Wos

19

Ultimo Aggiornamento Citazioni

28/04/2018

Numero di citazioni Scopus

20

Ultimo Aggiornamento Citazioni

22/04/2018

Settori ERC

Non Disponibile

Codici ASJC

Non Disponibile