DENRÉES ET CULTURES NOUVELLES : PERCEPTIONS ET LECTURES CROISÉES AUTOUR DES FRUITS DE LA MÉDITERRANÉE HISTORIQUE – FRUCTIMEDHIS

The recent development of field archaeology, especially in France, Italy, Belgium, England and Finland, combined with the use of biological sciences by archaeologists dealing historical periods, the re-interpretation of ancient documents and the new interest in unused evidence (iconography, culinary recipes, notarial documentation...) allowed us to renew our knowledge of agrarian rhythms in the Western economy, from the Iron Age to Modern Times (Flaran 10, 1988). This new scientific context makes it possible to reconsider the key problem of the introduction of plants and of new foods, as they go together with the dynamics of expanding populations. They are also regarded as a critical element of agricultural development and innovation (Meiller et Vannier 1991, Flaran 12 1992). Indeed, it is still difficult to evaluate the exact impact of this last factor and to understand the mechanisms of adaptation, importation and transmission which govern the introduction of these new plants in the agricultural cycle. The concept of novelty and how it can be perceived by the different sources will be the core of our research. Our multidisciplinary approach aims at understanding a crucial event, integrated in a broader reflection on agricultural growth and on the real impact of plant and food introduction to the western economy and society, in key periods - or considered as such; hence the choice of Antiquity and the Middle Ages and restricted geographical area (the North-Western Mediterranean, especially Southern France and Catalonia). This ambitious scientific investigation can not be completed in 36 months only. This is why we will deal in priority with fruits, not in the usual botanical sense of the term, but in the sense of food, thus enlarging the definition to include among others, fruits-vegetables (Cucurbitaceae), spices and aromatic plants (olive, myrte,…..) One of the first points to be carried out is to identify and date the appearance of new specific criteria: when and in which social and cultural context is a fruit considered as 'new'? When is it described, represented, painted, consumed, cultivated, domesticated, acclimatized or adapted? Which section of the society is concerned by this novelty? The second question regards the way in which these new fruits become part of the Western economy; by which means are they introduced? which channels of migration / transmission / diffusion / acculturation are used? A multi-disciplinary research is needed to establish the links between the technical, ecological, botanical, agronomic, cultural and social status of fruits coming from other regions. This research requires new protocols of study, reference data and efficient methods in order to establish reliable chronologies. Specific species, geographical areas and problems will be targeted first to open the way to wider studies. A first synthesis should be available by the end of this research program. The projet includes researchers from diverse fields of study : archaeologists some of them being particularly qualified in agrarian archaeology, in field-archaeology or in anthracology, archaeobotanists, bioarchaeologists and, historians of texts, antiquists and medievists, some of them also specialized in iconography, in anthracology. Such a wide approach requires the criticism of sources and extremely different levels of resolution. New ideas and methods will enrich this program via the realisation of seminars and workshops ; a new synthesis, including subjects such as diffusionist theories and yield of agricultural systems of ancient and medieval societies, will be prepared.