Fruit and vegetable species from selected sites
(Murray 2000b:
table 24.2-4)
English name/Latin name | Probable Origin | First Finds | Frequency of finds | Harvest | pictures |
Date palm (Phoenix dactylifera) | Near East | Predynastic? then MK | occ.during NK | autumn | sherds |
Dom palm (Hyphaene thebaica) | Sudan/Egypt | Late Palaeolithic | more common in Upper Egypt | autumn | |
Argun palm (Medemia argun) | Sudan? | Fifth Dynasty | occasional | spring | |
Sycamore fig (Ficus sycomorus) | East Africa | Predynastic | common | 3 crops a year | |
Common fig (Ficus carica) | Eastern Med. | Predynastic | occasional | summer | |
Pomegranate (Punica granatum) | S. Caspian/NE Turkey | Late MK | occasional | autumn | pendant / fruit |
Persea (Mimusops granatum) | East Africa | Third Dynasty | occasional | evergreen | |
Egyptian plum (Cordia myxa) | Tropical Asia | Middle Kingdom | rare | summer | |
Carob (Ceratonia siliqua) | Eastern Med. | Twelfth Dynasty | rare | autumn/winter | |
Christ's Thorn (Ziziphus spinachristi) | East Africa ? Near East ? | Predynastic | frequent | autumn | |
Grape (Vitis vinifera) | Transcacasia | Predynastic | frequent | autumn | see wine |
Olive (Olea europaea) | Mediterranean | 13th Dynasty | occasional from 18th Dynasty | autumn | |
Onion (Allium cepa) | Central Asia | 13th Dnasty? then 18th Dynasty | rare | spring | |
Leek/kurrat (Allium ampeloprasum var. porrum, var. kurrat | Mediterranean basin/Near East | date unknown | single find | summer | |
Garlic (Allium sativum) | C. Asia/Near East | 18th Dynasty | rare | winter/spring | clay models |
Lettuce (Latuca sativa) | W. Asia/Mediterranean | TIP/Ptolemaic/Roman | none | winter/sumer | faience model |
Celery (Apium graveolens) | S.W. Asia/Europe | 18th Dynasty | rare | winter/spring | |
Water melon (Cirtrullus lanatus) | N.Africa/W.Asia | Predynastic | occasional | summer | |
Colocynth (Cirullus colocynthus) | C. Asia/Near East | Neolithic | Predyn. -occ. Dyn.- rare | summer | |
Melon (Cucumis melo) | Asia/Africa | Predynastic | rare | summer/autumn | |
Chate melon (Cucumis melo var. chate) | Africa | not distinguished from above | not distinguished from above | summer | |
Cucumber (Cucumis sativus) | N. India | none confirmed | none confirmed | summer/autumn | |
Radish (Raphanus sativus) | Med/Africa/Caspian Sea? | Twelfth Dynasty ? | single find | winter/spring | |
Chufa, tiger nuts (Cyperus esculentus) | Egypt? | Predynastic | frequent | summer/autumn | |
Lentis (Lens culinaris) | Near East | Predynastic | frequent | winter/spring | |
Pea (Pisum sativium) | Near East | Predynastic | occasional | winter/spring | |
Chick (cicer arietenum) | Near East | 18th Dynasty | rare | spring | |
Faba Bean (Vicia faba var. minor) | Near East | Fifth Dynasty | rare | spring | |
Coriander (Coriandrum sativum) | Near East/East Med. | Predynastic, then 18th Dynasty | rare | winter/spring | |
Cumin (Cuminum cyminum) | C. Asia ? | 18th Dynasty | rare | autumn | |
Black cumin (Nigella sativa) | Near East | 18th Dynasty | single find | winter/spring | |
Dill (Anethum graveolens) | Med. basin/W. Asia | 18th Dynasty | rare | summer | |
Fenugreek (Trigonella foenumgraecum) | Eastern Med./Near East | Predynastic, then 18th Dynasty | rare | summer/autumn |
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