Wild Edible Plants Through Time: Archaeological Evidence and Future Prospects

The ARCHAEOCROP project investigates the role of wild plants in human history, focusing on two species, fat hen (Chenopodium album) and pale persicaria (Persicaria lapathifolia), which were managed by human communities but were never fully domesticated. Despite their historical and nutritional importance, these species have been underestimated by agronomic and archaeobotanical research. Archaeological evidence suggests a systematic use of these plants in prehistoric diets, yet questions remain as to whether they grew wild, were cultivated alongside cereals, or received deliberate human management, and why their use declined over time.The main objective of the project is to develop a methodological model capable of distinguishing human-managed plants from wild-growing ones, using seed biometrics (including GMM), testa morphology, and carbon and nitrogen isotopic values as indicators. To achieve this, the species will be experimentally cultivated under different management conditions in Madrid and Catalonia, generating reference material to compare with archaeological remains and to validate the model using the exceptional material from La Draga. The information obtained will be integrated into a multiparametric model that will allow the evaluation of past human management of these species and its application to other chronological and geographic contexts, starting with five previously studied sites in northeastern Iberia by the ARCHAEOCROP team.The project combines archaeobotany, ethnobotany, agronomy, isotopic chemistry, and ecological modelling, integrating data from modern experiments, archaeological remains, and ethnobotanical records to reconstruct the management of wild plants and their contribution to subsistence and early domestication. It will produce databases of archaeobotanical remains across Eurasia, diachronic visual models, and reference collections of phytoliths, seeds, and starches. Additionally, the contemporary potential of these species for sustainable agriculture and dietary diversification will be explored, assessing yield, biomass production, and ecological adaptability. ARCHAEOCROP also has a strong dissemination and outreach component, working with farmers, chefs, food sovereignty associations, and the general public through workshops, gastronomic events, educational activities, and citizen science networks. Furthermore, results will be published in open-access international journals, conference proceedings and a monography, ensuring wide academic and societal dissemination.In terms of impact, the project proposes a methodological advance in archaeobotany and archaeological knowledge, recovers historically and nutritionally significant neglected species, and contributes to agroecological resilience and food security. Moreover, it provides insights into plant-human coevolution, early domestication, and the historical use of wild species, generating information that is valuable both for research and for society, as well as for the sustainability of current food systems.