Archaeobotanists from Faculty of Science on University of South Bohemia cooperate long time on analyses from Prague castle with the Institute of Archaeology of the Academy of Sciences of the Czech republic, Prague, v.v.i.
Two important archaeological sites with rare unique plants dated to the early modern age are represented below.
Salm palace – cesspit from 17th century
Between Salm and Schwarzenberg courtyard connected by renaissance part of Salm palace the cesspit was detected. It is dated by dendrochronological analysis and rich assortment of glass artefacts to the 17th century. The analysis of macro-remains provides the abundant set of useful plants which documented the diet. Other plant species reflects anthropogenic environment.
The cesspit bordered on basement of eastern cornered part of Schwarzenberg palace, today belonging to back couryard of Salm palace.
Photo: K. Chlustíková
Beside common fruit species (fig, strawberry, vine etc.), oil plants (poppy, hemp, flax), cereals (millet, rye), pulses (lentil, peas, vetch) and spices (coriander, cumin, juniper) the rare and special plants were also detected – rice, tobacco and even the first record of lucerne weed – white ballmustard.
Aztec tobacco (Nicotiana rustica L.)
Aztec tobacco is annual herb with yellow blossom from Solanaceae family originate from Mexico. The oldest picture of smoking man came from Mayans Temple of Inscriptions in Palenque dated 400 A.D. In Bohemia is known from the second half of 16th century not only as a smoking stuff but medicine and ornamental plant even.
Asian rice (Oryza sativa L.)
Asian rice is annual bunchy cereal from Poaceae family originate from China and south-eastern Asia. Domestication of rice started back to 9000 BC and today is essential food for 1/3 of global population. Although rice in Bohemia was available in Middle Ages more common became in the early modern age.
Archaeobotanists from Faculty of Science on University of South Bohemia cooperate long time on analyses from Prague castle with the Institute of Archaeology of the Academy of Sciences of the Czech republic, Prague, v.v.i. Two important archaeological sites with rare unique plants dated to the early modern age are represented below.
Vladislav hall – waste vault infill from 16th/17th century
During the wooden floor reconstruction in Vladislav hall the waste vault infill was revealed. Plentiful archaeological artefacts were dated to the end of 16th century up to modern age.
The most precious finds belong to the age of King of Bohemia and Holy Roman Emperor Rudolf II. who relocated the Habsburg capital from Vienna to Prague in 1583-1597. Vladislav hall became the centre of royal representations, ceremonies, tournaments and also marketplace with luxury goods. It pawed the way to unknown exotic and rare botanical species to emerge in Prague. Some of that species were captured by macro remains analysis.
There are plenty of nutshells (almond, pistachio, hazel, walnut), sweet chestnut, stones of plum, cherries, apricot, peach, olive, seeds of citrus fruit, vine, apple, pear, melon, pumpkin etc. give evidence about variety and profusion food in the early modern age. For the first time in central Europe were found the carob tree seeds. All seeds have the same weight so the unit carat was derived from them. First records in Central Europe are also the coffee bean and peanut which represent the first record in whole Europe even.
Coffee (Coffea arabica L.)
Coffee is evergreen shrub or low tree from Rubiaceae family originate in Ethiopia. The first coffee was made by Arabian physician Rhazes in the 10th century. Drinking coffee in Europe starts at the end of the 16th century. The first coffee house was build in Vienna in 1685 used the coffee beans abandoned by defeated Turk. In Prague the first coffee house was opened by Arab Georgius Deodatus Damascenus in 1714.
Peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.)
Peanut is annual herb from Fabaceae family originate in South America. It was domesticated around 3000 BC. Later was peanut spread to West Africa, Brazil and Spain whence came the first written record from spanish historian Oviedo y Valdés. Via Spanish trade is probable way how is peanut reached Prague.
