Black Henbane (Hyoscyamus nigerL.) in the Scottish Neolithic: A Re-evaluation of Palynological Findings from Grooved Ware Pottery at Balfarg Riding School and Henge, Fife

Re-analysis of the pollen and macrofossil content of residues adhering to sherds of Grooved Ware, excavated from the Balfarg/Balbirnie ceremonial complex (Barclay & Russell-White, 1993), was undertaken to assess the methodology and techniques in analyses on unconventional deposits of this type a...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of archaeological science 1999-01, Vol.26 (1), p.45-52
Main Authors: Long, Deborah J., Milburn, Paula, Bunting, M.Jane, Tipping, Richard, Holden, Timothy G.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Europe
GROOVED WARE
HYOSCYAMUS NIGER(BLACK HENBANE)
MACROFOSSILS
Neolithic
Neolithic and chalcolithic
North West Europe
POLLEN
Prehistory and protohistory
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Summary:Re-analysis of the pollen and macrofossil content of residues adhering to sherds of Grooved Ware, excavated from the Balfarg/Balbirnie ceremonial complex (Barclay & Russell-White, 1993), was undertaken to assess the methodology and techniques in analyses on unconventional deposits of this type and also to examine evidence for the use ofHyoscyamus niger(black henbane) in the Neolithic, possibly as a narcotic. Henbane pollen and seeds within the residues had been identified in earlier studies (see Barclay & Russell-White, 1993) and these were related to possible “ritual” activities at the site (Richards, 1993). The re-analysis has highlighted problems with using organic residues from pottery fragments and was unable to find any evidence of henbane or any other poisonous plant in the sampled residues.
ISSN:0305-4403
1095-9238
DOI:10.1006/jasc.1998.0308