The UNESCO Libyan Valleys Survey X: Botanical evidence for ancient farming in the pre-desert

Abstract

AbstractThis report discusses the first results of the botanical analysis of 182 samples from seven Romano-Libyan and two Islamic sites situated in the pre-desert of Tripolitania. Nine different crop plants have been discovered: barley, wheat, peas, lentils, olives, grapes, figs, dates and almonds. The likelihood of local production versus import, and of subsistence farming versus production for a market is discussed. No significant difference was detected between the range of crops found on the earlier open farms and those found on the later gsur.