This chapter reviews the preliminary results and methodology used in the archaeobotanical research programme at Dichin, a multi-period late Roman site in Bulgaria. The remarkable state of preservation of in situ deposits, especially from the destruction level dating to the end of the fifth century, provided an ideal opportunity to integrate fully the process of excavation with the recovery and examination of the seed material in order to research, not just the agricultural economy of the site, but also to reconstruct the spatial distribution of the finds and their association within...

This chapter reviews the preliminary results and methodology used in the archaeobotanical research programme at Dichin, a multi-period late Roman site in Bulgaria. The remarkable state of preservation of in situ deposits, especially from the destruction level dating to the end of the fifth century, provided an ideal opportunity to integrate fully the process of excavation with the recovery and examination of the seed material in order to research, not just the agricultural economy of the site, but also to reconstruct the spatial distribution of the finds and their association within particular buildings (granaries, store-buildings and living accommodation). Archaeological excavations were carried out at Dichin between 1996 and 2001. The excavations targeted defences, gateways, buildings and a road revealed by remote survey. Many of the buildings within the area were used for storing cereals and pulses. In addition, the lack of weed seeds or processing waste indicates that the crops were all at the final stage of processing and were in storage prior to distribution or use.