FOOD DIET AND RITUAL PRACTICES AT APULUM. A COMPARATIVE ARCHAEOBOTANICAL STUDY
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.14795/jaha.12.1.2025.1283Keywords:
Archaeobotany, Roman diet, Apulum, charred macro-remains, vegetal offeringsAbstract
This study analyses the daily diet and ritual practices of the Roman community at Apulum (modern-day Alba Iulia) based on archaeobotanical findings from four distinct research points: the canabae of Legio XIII Gemina, Municipium Septimium Apulense, Colonia Aurelia Apulensis and the villa rustica at Oarda-Bulza-Alba Iulia. The investigation of macro-botanical remains (charred seeds) from both domestic and sacred contexts highlights the staple foods consumed by the population and the role of plants in religious rituals. The diet was dominated by Triticum aestivum and Triticum spelta, with legumes revealed in smaller quantities. Research confirms a diverse agricultural system in the Apulum hinterland, adapted to the needs of the military garrison and the civilian population. In ritual contexts, Vitis vinifera and other identified plant remains indicate specific offerings related to the cults of Liber Pater and Mithras, reflecting the interaction between food and religion. Comparative analysis with other Roman research points highlights both the local dietary particularities and the integration of Apulum into the economic and agricultural practices of the Roman Empire.
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