Bronze Age Europeans expanded farming with new crop
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Archaeologists studying remains in Poland and Central Europe determined that Bronze Age communities began using broomcorn millet around 1590 BCE, earlier than previously thought.
Researchers combined multiple methods of analysis, including isotope analysis of bones, radiocarbon dating, and genetic data, to understand how people incorporated the new crop into their diets and landscapes. They found that millet allowed communities to farm land previously considered unsuitable for wheat and barley, expanding agricultural areas and improving food security.
The team discovered that early millet eaters often grew up consuming traditional grains before adding millet to their diets, indicating a gradual shift in foodways. Analysis of strontium isotopes in skeletal remains showed that millet consumers and non-consumers utilized different parts of the local territory, suggesting the crop enabled people to cultivate a wider range of environments. Researchers also found no evidence that millet consumption was linked to social status, sex, or age.
Instead, access to specific land areas determined who ate the crop. This study represents the first time scientists have connected a new summer crop to the expanded use of previously unfarmed land, providing insights relevant to modern crop diversification and adapting to climate change.
