The Journey of Resources : Archaeobotanical analysis of late Iron Age and medieval Sigtuna, Sweden

Sammanfattning: Traditional agriculture has played an important role in shaping the landscape for thousands of years. Agriculture and interactions between humans and their surroundings have changed since the beginning of historic time in Sweden, approximately 1000 years ago. Through botanical macrofossil analysis of plant remnants found in an urban ditch in Sigtuna, Sweden, I examine which natural landscapes the town’s inhabitants may have interacted with in terms of resource collection in the beginning of the Medieval period. The results showed indications of predominantly nutritious wet grassland habitats, but also dry grassland and forests, as well as remnants of urban and cultivated species. The species indicate that the resources may have been used as winter fodder for animals, but possibly also as sustenance for humans as well as building material. The results indicated little change over time, regarding which landscape types were interacted with, but there were possible indications of a decrease in grassland resource collection in the youngest sample from 1150 A.D. Further research is needed to understand the indication. The material indicates that the Cyperaceae family will be instrumental in continuing this research.