Speaker
Dr. Bryna Cameron-Steinke, Marjorie McLean Oliver Postdoctoral Fellow, ³ÉÈË´óƬ
Abstract
According to their hagiographers, Brittany’s early medieval saints transformed what was once unproductive wilderness into a paradise of fields, gardens, orchards and vineyards. This paper investigates this narrative by contrasting Breton hagiographies and charters with evidence from palynology and archaeobotany. The result is a layered view of Brittany’s natural landscapes, in which Breton farmers and gardeners contended with various challenges, from poor soils to insect infestations, in order to supply local communities with fruits and vegetables. Breton vineyards, meanwhile, appear infrequently in both the textual and archaeological record. While the region did produce wine, particularly in the rich soils of Brittany’s southeast, monasteries such as Redon and Landévennec also sought out imports from outside the province, suggesting that local wines did not always suit elite tastes. Altogether, this study shows that early medieval Bretons adopted a localized and flexible approach to agricultural production, cultivating and consuming a diverse array of produce, from apples and lentils to honey and wine.
