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New evidence on the introduction, cultivation and processing of hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) in southern Sweden

På svenska

Author

Summary, in English

Subfossil remains of Cannabis sativa L. (hemp) have been found at Lindangelund in the region of Malmo, southern Sweden. These represent the earliest robust evidence so far for hemp retting in Scandinavia. Finds of seeds, stems and pollen of C. sativa from a waterlogged context on a settlement dating to the Roman Iron Age demonstrate that the plant was locally cultivated and processed during the 1st-2nd centuries AD. An introductory phase in Scandinavia is proposed (c. AD 1-400) during which the cultivation of hemp was apparently small scale and processing was probably carried out within settlements. In the succeeding centuries, c. AD 400-550 (the Migration Period), remains of hemp are mostly found in pollen records from lake sediments, and less frequently in the archaeological record. This could indicate that the process of hemp retting relocated from settlements to lakes shores where activity became larger in scale and more integrated with the prevailing agricultural system.

Department/s

Publishing year

2015

Language

English

Pages

111-119

Publication/Series

Environmental Archaeology

Volume

20

Issue

2

Document type

Journal article

Publisher

Maney Publishing

Topic

  • Archaeology

Keywords

  • Cannabis sativa
  • Hemp
  • Retting
  • Roman Iron Age
  • Sweden
  • Scandinavia

Status

Published

ISBN/ISSN/Other

  • ISSN: 1461-4103