The Possibility of Sericulture in Byzantine Cappadocia

Byzantine Cappadocia, renowned for its unique rock-cut remains and lunar-like landscapes, may have supported sericulture despite historical perceptions of water scarcity. A study challenges the notion that the region was barren by examining archaeological evidence on water capture, storage, and conveyance techniques. It argues that substantial water supplies were available, enabling significant agricultural activities. The research uses sigillographic evidence, painted depictions, and written sources to suggest that Cappadocia possessed the institutional, environmental, and logistical prerequisites for silk production during Late Antiquity and the middle Byzantine period. While the study does not definitively confirm sericulture, it calls for further investigation into this possibility, highlighting potential avenues for future research.

Cooper, J. E. (2017). The Possibility of Sericulture in Byzantine Cappadocia. Discipuli Dona Ferentes, 119–147. https://doi.org/10.1484/m.sbhc-eb.5.113954