Vegetales comestibles en Asiria y Babilonia: la evidencia de la documentación escrita y paleobotánica

Resumo

For establishing the edible plants cultivated or collected in ancient Mesopotamia, we have two sources: the archaeological record and the cuneiform texts. Of these, the texts yield by far more information, although the importante of paleoethnobotany is increasing every year. At present we can say, that Assyrians and Babylonians had a cereal based agriculture, with barley playing the mayor part in it. A great number of fruits was also available, while the identity of most vegetables and pulses is still difficult to establish. Plants also had a great importance as oil crops and as spices, of which the Mesopotamian kitchen was particularily fond.