The Holocene history of grapevine (Vitis vinifera) and viticulture in France retraced from a large-scale archaeobotanical dataset - Université de Rennes Accéder directement au contenu
Article Dans Une Revue Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology Année : 2023

The Holocene history of grapevine (Vitis vinifera) and viticulture in France retraced from a large-scale archaeobotanical dataset

Carine Cenzon-Salvayre
Laurie Flottes
Florian Jedrusiak
  • Fonction : Auteur
  • PersonId : 1219967
Caroline Schaal
  • Fonction : Auteur
  • PersonId : 1024980
Stéphanie Thiébault

Résumé

Grapevine and wine have deeply shaped the landscapes, economy and cultures of Europe and the Mediterranean. In France, it is considered that viticulture started in the south via contacts with Mediterranean populations (Greeks, Etruscans, Phoenicians), during the second half of the 1st millennium BCE, and spread further with the Romans. Wild grapevines were nevertheless present in various areas of the country all through the Holocene. No archaeological or historical source allows us to follow the history of grapevine and viticulture over the entire Holocene period and over the whole territory.In this paper we investigate the potential of archaeological plant macroremains (seed/fruits and wood) to trace the history of the vine on a large scale. We have assembled the largest possible database of published and unpublished archaeobotanical data, comprising 4449 site-phases for seed and fruits and 1356 site-phases for wood remains. In spite of taphonomic discrepancies and imbalances in the datasets, the different types of macroremains and modes of preservation produce consistent patterns. They provide the first comprehensive picture of the spread of grapevine, fluctuations in the economic role of viticulture and grape uses over time, although some periods and regions are less documented.Grapevine remains are regularly recorded from the Mesolithic to the Iron Age in most regions showing that human societies were already familiar with the wild plant and its fruits, especially in the Mediterranean. In this region, Vitis remains become considerably more frequent and numerous during the Iron Age, from around 500 BCE onwards, testifying to the rapid and strong implantation of viticulture. Grapevine macroremains confirm that the spread of viticulture outside the Mediterranean area occurred mainly during the Roman period. However, this expansion was limited and mainly focused on the South. The main expansion into the temperate zone took place during the Middle Ages. However, the more detailed fluctuations of viticulture, particularly in relation to climate oscillations are still difficult to follow. Pip remains are mainly associated with urban sites. This is a consequence of the actual consumption of grapes and may be evidence of a viticulture centered around urban areas.
Fichier principal
Vignette du fichier
Bouby_et_al2023.pdf (12.57 Mo) Télécharger le fichier
Origine : Fichiers éditeurs autorisés sur une archive ouverte

Dates et versions

hal-04164708 , version 1 (25-10-2023)

Identifiants

Citer

Laurent Bouby, Lucie Chabal, Vincent Bonhomme, Isabelle Baly, Janet Battentier, et al.. The Holocene history of grapevine (Vitis vinifera) and viticulture in France retraced from a large-scale archaeobotanical dataset. Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology, 2023, 625, ⟨10.1016/j.palaeo.2023.111655⟩. ⟨hal-04164708⟩
210 Consultations
119 Téléchargements

Altmetric

Partager

Gmail Facebook X LinkedIn More