Excavation work carried out at Istres and Saint-Rémy-de-Provence (Provence, Southern France), in the framework of preventive archaeology, uncovered evidence of ancient gardens (13/14th–17th centuries), equipped with lined wells. Significant numbers of waterlogged remains of fruit species as well as legumes and condiments provided information on the availability of “healthy” foods to complement and diversify the daily diet of urban dwellers, largely dependent on bread. Other herbaceous plants reflecting the background environment of this agriculture-arboriculture production are also identified (weeds, ruderals, plants from meadows and other humid habitats etc.). The archaeobotanical assemblage identified in both sites also includes Ricinus communis, a highly toxic plant. As far as we know this is the first time Ricinus seeds are recorded by archaeobotany in Europe. The likely significance of this discovery is discussed taking into account the archaeological and palaeoenvironmental contexts of the findings and the known history of this plant.

在预防考古学的框架内，在Istres和Saint-Rémy-de-Provence（法国南部普罗旺斯）进行的挖掘工作中，发现了带有衬砌井的古老花园（13 / 14-17世纪）的证据。大量淹水的水果，豆类和调味品残骸为人们提供了有关“健康”食品的信息，以补充和多样化城市居民的日常饮食，这些人主要依靠面包。还确定了其他反映该农业-树木栽培生产背景环境的草本植物（杂草、,草，草甸植物和其他潮湿的生境等）。在这两个地点发现的古植物群落还包括高毒植物蓖麻（Ricinus communis）。据我们所知，这是欧洲古植物首次记录蓖麻种子。考虑到该发现的考古和古环境以及该植物的已知历史，对该发现的可能意义进行了讨论。