A morphometric approach to track opium poppy domestication

Area of Science:

• Archaeobotany
• Paleoethnobotany
• Plant domestication studies

Background:

• Opium poppy (Papaver somniferum) domestication origins are debated, likely in the Western Mediterranean.
• Distinguishing wild and domestic opium poppy seeds is crucial for understanding its history but lacks established morphological criteria.
• Previous archaeobotanical findings are limited by the inability to differentiate seed types.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and apply new methods for distinguishing wild and domestic opium poppy seeds.
• To investigate the early stages of opium poppy domestication in Neolithic Europe.
• To reconstruct the historical and geographical spread of opium poppy cultivation.

Main Methods:

• Seed outline analysis using elliptic Fourier transforms.
• Application of combined morphometric descriptors for Papaver taxa identification.
• Analysis of a Neolithic archaeobotanical assemblage from Switzerland (Zurich-Parkhaus Opéra).

Main Results:

• A precise method combining seed outline and morphometric data was developed to identify seven Papaver taxa.
• The study identified mixed populations of domestic and wild opium poppy seeds in a Neolithic site.
• Evidence suggests opium poppy domestication was in progress by the late 4th millennium BC in Europe.

Conclusions:

• The developed morphometric approach enables accurate identification of wild and domestic opium poppy seeds.
• Opium poppy domestication was underway in Europe by the late Neolithic period.
• This research provides a foundation for understanding the broader history and spread of opium poppy cultivation.