Geometric morphometric analysis of Neolithic wheat grains: insights into the early development of free-threshing forms

A groundbreaking study using geometric morphometric (GMM) analysis reveals that Neolithic communities in Çatalhöyük (central Anatolia, Turkey) cultivated hexaploid naked wheat around 7000 BCE, while those in Kouphovouno (Peloponnese, Greece) likely grew a tetraploid wheat resembling 'unimproved' durum. This challenges previous assumptions about the spread of free-threshing wheats (FTWs) into Europe and provides the first reliable archaeological distinction between these ploidy levels using grain morphology. The research offers new insights into early agricultural practices and the cultural significance of FTWs in Neolithic societies, suggesting shifts over time in their perceived value or sustainability.

Roushannafas, T., Bogaard, A., & Charles, M. (2023). Geometric morphometric analysis of Neolithic wheat grains: insights into the early development of free-threshing forms. Vegetation History and Archaeobotany, 32(6), 597–613. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00334-023-00929-x