DOI chapter:
Changing Worlds – The Spread of the Neolithic Way of Life in the North
DOI chapter:Kirleis, Wibke: Subsistence change? Diversification of plant economy during the Neolithic in northern Germany
DOI Page / Citation link:https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.66745#0449
448
Subsistence change? Diversification of plant economy during the Neolithic in northern Germany
point of view, it is noteworthy that there are contin-
ued indications for the cultivation of opium poppy,
and that - for the first time in northern Germany -
there is evidence of grains from the tetrapioid variety
of free-threshing wheat Triticum durum/turgidum in
a domestic context at the MN V site Wangels LA505.
The phenomenon of the Younger Neolithic
Single Grave culture groups developed with a low
spatial representation of domestic sites, with their
own forms of social organisation and their own
symbols that are expressed in a new monumental
boom (Brozio 2019a). The Younger Neolithic sub-
sistence economy is perceived as primarily relying
on animal husbandry, the plant component being
difficult to trace. But the sparse evidence for cereal
cultivation shows a continuation of previous tradi-
tions, with cultivation strategies being adapted to
specific environmental constraints when necessary
(Klassen 2005). This is in contrast to the Late Neo-
lithic period, beginning around 2,250 calBCE, when
an emphasis is placed on intensive crop cultivation
strategies and new specific storage systems. The
pattern of diversification in subsistence economy
becomes evident. It finds its expression in a wider
crop spectrum and in new subsistence management
strategies, indicating possibly new networks, wherein
spelt and hulled barley are encountered as new cul-
tivars, and the cultivation of free-threshing wheat
is consolidated (Effenberger 2017; 2018). At the
same time, massive changes in the archaeological
record concern the declining relevance of monu-
ments, which are replaced by high deposition rates
of status symbols in the form of flint daggers and
metal objects, reflecting supra-regional metallurgy
exchange systems (Klassen 2004; Vandkilde 2017).
The new Late Neolithic economic growth features
a strong plant component. It is reflected in a highly
variable, but strongly increasing human impact on
the environment with maximal indications for soil
erosion around 1,900 calBCE, with the transforma-
tions further influenced by a regional abrupt cool-
ing event that is evidenced in the Skagerrak pal-
aeo-climatological records (Butruille et al. 2017;
Brozio 2019a).
Comparison of the diachronic developments in
crop cultivation in the southern Scandinavian
and northern German Neolithic
The diachronic development of crop cultivation in
the northern German Neolithic, as presented in this
paper, is characterised by the pattern of diversification
in the crop spectrum as well as seen in the socio-
technological management of crop cultivation. The
onset of crop cultivation started with a narrow set
of main cultivars, namely free-threshing barley and
emmer. This cereal assemblage is then widened with
an off-set of about 1,500 years into the Late Neo-
lithic when spelt and free-threshing wheat become
two additional main staples. If we compare this re-
gional picture with data from southern Scandinavia,
in particular from southern Sweden, but also from
Denmark (as compiled by Kirleis / Fischer 2014, fig.
6), a different pattern is observed. The crop spectra
of the sites Almhov, Kvarlov, Hjulberga, Limensgard,
and Frydenlund show a notable contribution of free-
threshing wheat as early as in the Early Neolithic I.
Based on this compilation, it is concluded that the
finds of free-threshing wheat support the scenario
of a chronological separation of different agricultur-
al systems that were implemented within different
Funnel Beaker phases. The evidence for tetrapioid
free-threshing wheat shows that the tradition of the
early Funnel Beaker groups is linked to southwest-
ern agricultural developments, for example, of the
Michelsberg culture. In southern Scandinavia, the
Early Neolithic I shows a substantial cereal spectrum
with emmer, barley, and free-threshing wheat as main
staples. It is separated from the agricultural system of
the Middle to Late Neolithic that built upon a stan-
dardised narrow cereal spectrum with only barley and
emmer as main staples. The change was supported
by the introduction of the new ard technology dur-
ing the late Early/Middle Neolithic transition. The
ard was most probably in use on a regular basis with
a draught animal system since the Middle Neolithic
(Johannsen 2006). The standardised narrow cultivar
package, combined with extensive cultivation strate-
gies, may have allowed for surplus production and
at the same time furthered population growth. Such
agricultural change most likely mirrors transforma-
tions in the organisation of Funnel Beaker societies,
with a new burial attitude emerging, in connection
with intensive monument building about 3,600-3,200
calBCE that required increased labour input.
The different phasing of agricultural systems in
the Funnel Beaker period as described in Kirleis and
Fischer (2014) remains valid, but when compared
with the improved evidence for northern Germany, it
has to be seen as a specific regional expression for the
onset of crop cultivation in southern Scandinavia.
In contrast, cereal cultivation in northern German
Funnel Beaker groups focused on barley and em-
mer from the beginning. Free-threshing wheat was
known as well, but did not become a main staple
food until the Late Neolithic.
Subsistence change? Diversification of plant economy during the Neolithic in northern Germany
point of view, it is noteworthy that there are contin-
ued indications for the cultivation of opium poppy,
and that - for the first time in northern Germany -
there is evidence of grains from the tetrapioid variety
of free-threshing wheat Triticum durum/turgidum in
a domestic context at the MN V site Wangels LA505.
The phenomenon of the Younger Neolithic
Single Grave culture groups developed with a low
spatial representation of domestic sites, with their
own forms of social organisation and their own
symbols that are expressed in a new monumental
boom (Brozio 2019a). The Younger Neolithic sub-
sistence economy is perceived as primarily relying
on animal husbandry, the plant component being
difficult to trace. But the sparse evidence for cereal
cultivation shows a continuation of previous tradi-
tions, with cultivation strategies being adapted to
specific environmental constraints when necessary
(Klassen 2005). This is in contrast to the Late Neo-
lithic period, beginning around 2,250 calBCE, when
an emphasis is placed on intensive crop cultivation
strategies and new specific storage systems. The
pattern of diversification in subsistence economy
becomes evident. It finds its expression in a wider
crop spectrum and in new subsistence management
strategies, indicating possibly new networks, wherein
spelt and hulled barley are encountered as new cul-
tivars, and the cultivation of free-threshing wheat
is consolidated (Effenberger 2017; 2018). At the
same time, massive changes in the archaeological
record concern the declining relevance of monu-
ments, which are replaced by high deposition rates
of status symbols in the form of flint daggers and
metal objects, reflecting supra-regional metallurgy
exchange systems (Klassen 2004; Vandkilde 2017).
The new Late Neolithic economic growth features
a strong plant component. It is reflected in a highly
variable, but strongly increasing human impact on
the environment with maximal indications for soil
erosion around 1,900 calBCE, with the transforma-
tions further influenced by a regional abrupt cool-
ing event that is evidenced in the Skagerrak pal-
aeo-climatological records (Butruille et al. 2017;
Brozio 2019a).
Comparison of the diachronic developments in
crop cultivation in the southern Scandinavian
and northern German Neolithic
The diachronic development of crop cultivation in
the northern German Neolithic, as presented in this
paper, is characterised by the pattern of diversification
in the crop spectrum as well as seen in the socio-
technological management of crop cultivation. The
onset of crop cultivation started with a narrow set
of main cultivars, namely free-threshing barley and
emmer. This cereal assemblage is then widened with
an off-set of about 1,500 years into the Late Neo-
lithic when spelt and free-threshing wheat become
two additional main staples. If we compare this re-
gional picture with data from southern Scandinavia,
in particular from southern Sweden, but also from
Denmark (as compiled by Kirleis / Fischer 2014, fig.
6), a different pattern is observed. The crop spectra
of the sites Almhov, Kvarlov, Hjulberga, Limensgard,
and Frydenlund show a notable contribution of free-
threshing wheat as early as in the Early Neolithic I.
Based on this compilation, it is concluded that the
finds of free-threshing wheat support the scenario
of a chronological separation of different agricultur-
al systems that were implemented within different
Funnel Beaker phases. The evidence for tetrapioid
free-threshing wheat shows that the tradition of the
early Funnel Beaker groups is linked to southwest-
ern agricultural developments, for example, of the
Michelsberg culture. In southern Scandinavia, the
Early Neolithic I shows a substantial cereal spectrum
with emmer, barley, and free-threshing wheat as main
staples. It is separated from the agricultural system of
the Middle to Late Neolithic that built upon a stan-
dardised narrow cereal spectrum with only barley and
emmer as main staples. The change was supported
by the introduction of the new ard technology dur-
ing the late Early/Middle Neolithic transition. The
ard was most probably in use on a regular basis with
a draught animal system since the Middle Neolithic
(Johannsen 2006). The standardised narrow cultivar
package, combined with extensive cultivation strate-
gies, may have allowed for surplus production and
at the same time furthered population growth. Such
agricultural change most likely mirrors transforma-
tions in the organisation of Funnel Beaker societies,
with a new burial attitude emerging, in connection
with intensive monument building about 3,600-3,200
calBCE that required increased labour input.
The different phasing of agricultural systems in
the Funnel Beaker period as described in Kirleis and
Fischer (2014) remains valid, but when compared
with the improved evidence for northern Germany, it
has to be seen as a specific regional expression for the
onset of crop cultivation in southern Scandinavia.
In contrast, cereal cultivation in northern German
Funnel Beaker groups focused on barley and em-
mer from the beginning. Free-threshing wheat was
known as well, but did not become a main staple
food until the Late Neolithic.