THE ARCHAEOBOTANY OF LATE NEOLITHIC-EARLY CHALCOLITHIC VARBISHKI DOL (BATA, PANAGOURISHTE MUNICIPALITY, WESTERN BULGARIA): RESULTS FROM THE RESCUE TRAIL TRENCHING CAMPAIGN

This study was conducted side by side with the ongoing rescue trail trenching of Late Neolithic-Early Chalcolithic (LN-EC) settlement site at Varbishki dol in Western Bulgaria and its main goal was to test and present the potential of early sampling for bio-archaeological analysis and particularly - for the archaeobotany. The obtained results provided a signal for the LN-EC crop exploitation, including processing and consumption of cereals and pulses. This initial archaeobotanical data will serve as a fundament during the analysis of the bio-archaeological samples-to-be extracted from the forthcoming full excavation campaign at this prehistoric site.

Automated summary

This study conducted alongside the ongoing rescue excavation at Varbishki dol in Western Bulgaria aimed to test the potential of early sampling for bioarchaeological analysis, specifically archaeobotany. The results indicated crop exploitation during the LN-EC period, serving as a foundation for future bioarchaeological analysis of samples to be extracted during the forthcoming full excavation campaign at this prehistoric site.