The Town as Agrarian Dissipative Structure: Cash Crops in the Medieval Kingdom of Galicia

Archaeobotanical analysis reveals that medieval towns, including Santiago de Compostela, functioned as 'agrarian dissipative structures,' centralizing the flow of cash crops from rural areas. The study, focusing on waterlogged contexts in Galicia, identified key species like broomcorn millet, grapes, chestnuts, and figs, which were crucial for urban subsistence and redistribution. Notably, medlar, turnip/grelo, and spinach emerged as novel findings in the Iberian Peninsula's medieval archaeobotanical record, suggesting diverse food preferences or differential access. This research sheds light on the economic and social dynamics of medieval towns by tracing the movement and consumption of crops through carpological evidence.

Teira-Brión, A., Constela Doce, X., Sartal Lorenzo, M., Gil Agra, D., & Rúa Carril, V. (2022). The Town as Agrarian Dissipative Structure: Cash Crops in the Medieval Kingdom of Galicia. https://doi.org/10.20944/preprints202201.0284.v1