Berry and fruit plants in the nutrition of Novgorod dwellers (based on the 2023 excavations in Borkova Street)

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Abstract

The paper is focused on studying the plant diet of medieval Novgorodians. The main object of the research was plant macroremains obtained from samples taken from the remains of a cesspit discovered during excavations near the medieval Borkova Street in Veliky Novgorod in the mid-13th century layer. Many plant species, including those used daily, are not reflected in medieval records. From this point of view, cesspits are especially important objects – a direct source of information on nutrition. This study is significant as it is the first one based on materials from such objects in Novgorod, being the second for Rus sites (after the Trinity Lavra of St. Sergius, unpublished data) and the third for Russia as a whole.

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About the authors

D. S. Serezhnikova

Higher School of Economics

Author for correspondence.
Email: Serezhnikova@yandex.ru
Russian Federation, Moscow

A. Yu. Sergeev

Institute of Archaeology of the RAS

Email: alexarchbot@yandex.ru
Russian Federation, Moscow

O. M. Oleynikov

Institute of Archaeology of the RAS

Email: olejnikov1960@yandex.ru
Russian Federation, Moscow

V. D. Polovinchuk

Institute of Archaeology of the RAS

Email: v.polovinchuk@yandex.ru
Russian Federation, Moscow

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2. Fig. 1. Excavation site in Borkova Street. Section 3, west view. Log frameworks, clearing level −600 cm

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3. Fig. 2. Excavation site in Borkova Street. Section 3, clearing level − 610 cm. The filling of log framework with visually distinguishable cherry pits

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4. Fig. 3. Excavation site in Borkova Street. Section 3, western part. Plan at −610 cm level. Sampling scheme

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5. Fig. 4. Macroremains of food plants

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6. Fig. 5. Berry and fruit-bearing plants: content of macroremains in samples, %

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