Neolithic founder crops

Neolithic Founder Crops

The Neolithic founder crops (also known as First Farming Groups or Fertile Crescent Crops) are the first eight crop species cultivated by humans during the early Neolithic period, which began around 10,000 BC. These crops are believed to have been the basis for the development of agriculture, which marked a significant turning point in human history.

History

The concept of Neolithic founder crops was first proposed by archaeobotanist Daniel Zohary and geneticist Maria Hopf. They identified the eight crops that were first domesticated in the Fertile Crescent, a region in the Middle East that includes modern-day Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, Israel, Palestine, Jordan, Egypt, and parts of Turkey and Iran.

The Eight Founder Crops

The eight Neolithic founder crops are:

1. Einkorn wheat
2. Emmer wheat
3. Barley
4. Lentil
5. Pea
6. Chickpea
7. Bitter vetch
8. Flax

These crops were the first to be domesticated by early human societies and played a crucial role in the transition from hunter-gatherer lifestyles to settled farming communities.

Significance

The cultivation of these crops marked a significant shift in human society. The ability to grow food rather than hunt or gather it allowed humans to settle in one place, leading to the development of larger communities and eventually complex societies and civilizations. The domestication of these crops also led to significant changes in the human diet and had profound effects on human health and lifespan.

See Also

• History of agriculture
• Domestication
• Fertile Crescent
• Neolithic Revolution