Santorini (Thera) Greece. Possible Implications of the Present Existence of Vicia Articulata Hornem for Archaeobotany/Palaeoethnobotany and Its Value for Its Future Needs in Agriculture

Abstract

Vicia articulata Hornem, a not highly domesticated legume (Hammer and Khoshbakht Citation2015), which is used as green manure, fodder, and in times of stress, as food, is in the process of extinction. Although it was mentioned as cultivated (Kavvadas Citation1956) up to the 1950s in many parts of Greece, lately, the only area which is known to still cultivate it is on the Cycladic Island of Santorini, Thera, and is referred to as ‘lentil’. The aim of this paper is threefold: (A) to intercept its extinction, as it is an excellent plant for green manuring and fodder and enriches the soil with nutrients and humidity under arid conditions; its importance in agriculture and husbandry needs to be redressed; it produces even under ≤ 300 mm of rain, which is of utmost importance in times of Climate Change; (B) to draw the attention of archaeobotanists to pay more attention to identifying lentil-type legumes in the archaeological/archaeobotanical contexts, and widen our knowledge of the legumes cultivated in the past, as well as build their biographies regarding their domestication trajectories and use and (C) to call for the attention of ethnobotanists, archaeobotanists and farmers to cooperate, protect and promote traditional systems of agriculture, which are more sustainable in arid environments.

The authors' abstract, as published at the source. Environmental Archaeology, 2026 · DOI ↗