Geometric morphometrics sheds new light on the identification and domestication status of ‘new glume wheat’ at Neolithic Çatalhöyük

New glume wheat (NGW) at Çatalhöyük shows remarkable stability over millennia, with geometric morphometric analysis confirming its close resemblance to modern Triticum timopheevii wheats. The study reveals that NGW was undergoing selection for domestication traits, such as reduced shattering and grain form changes, during the 1150-year East Mound sequence. This suggests early investment in a less efficient but risk-mitigating crop alongside fully-domesticated emmer wheat, reflecting a broad-spectrum plant strategy at Çatalhöyük. The research also highlights the sensitivity of geometric morphometrics to inter- and intra-species differences, offering methodological insights for future studies.

Roushannafas, T., Bogaard, A., & Charles, M. (2022). Geometric morphometrics sheds new light on the identification and domestication status of ‘new glume wheat’ at Neolithic Çatalhöyük. Journal of Archaeological Science, 142, 105599. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jas.2022.105599