Beyond Arable Fields: Reconsidering the Landscape Economy of Roman Aldborough (Isurium Brigantum)

Speaker: Dr Neal Payne; Research Associate in the Economy of the Roman Fens at the University of Cambridge
Series: Pitt-Rivers Archaeological Science Seminar Series

Archaeobotanical interpretations of Roman Britain have traditionally been dominated by cereal agriculture, with non-cereal plants frequently framed as arable weeds or background contaminants that obscure interpretations of cultivation practices. This talk presents new archaeobotanical evidence from Roman Aldborough (Isurium Brigantum) suggesting that these overlooked components of the botanical landscape represent a significant element of the wider economy: turf exploitation. By combining evidence from Aldborough with archaeobotanical records from across northern Britain, it explores how overlooked plants can reshape our understanding of the Roman economy and past landscapes.