Period: The Neolithic period (5000 - 1700 BC)
Project title: Reviving ancient crop species
Researcher: Sabine Karg, Nationalmuseet, Danmark
E-mail: sabine.karg(at)natmus.dk
Year: 2008
Research Problem:
About 7000 years ago farming was introduced in Europe. Since then cereals have made up an increasing part of our daily diet and farmers have made the production of cereals more and more efficient. The first European cereals had a far smaller yield than modern cereals, but did in return have other forgotten qualities.
In recent years ancient cereals like Spelt and Emmer have become widely known, whereas Naked Barley are as yet less known. However it is a little known fact that the old-fashioned grains contain far more healthy vitamins and proteins than modern grain, and even contain fewer calories.
All the same the old cereals have become more and more rare and are today only grown in extremely few areas. Like in a zoo the seeds need to be maintained as living crops and cultivated every year to ensure their survival in the years to come.
In 2008 Archaeobotanist Sabine Karg has sewn a small field at Lejre Research Centre, with 7 different old rural species of Naked barley. The experiment is to ensure the ongoing survival of liable seeds. If cultivation and harvest go well the grain will later undergo a series of tests to reveal the potential of these ancient crops. Perhaps these rare cereals can revolutionize our eating habits in ways we can not even imagine? But first we must insure the survival of these endangered species!
Researcher's Conclusion:
The aim of the experiment is to multiply ancient grain species and insure liable seeds. The experiment was successful and produced a satisfactory amount of seeds. In May a small plot (9 x 1 m2) was sown with 7 variations of Naked Barley. All the seeds sprouted and grew abundantly, meaning more than one straw grew from each seed. There were almost no weeds and after 107 days with many hours of sunshine all 7 species were ripe and they were harvested with a sickle. The experiment is expected to continue in the years to come.
Reference number HAF 16/08