Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Vitis sp., Vitaceae and viticulture in the Indus Civilization, South Asia ca. 3200–1500 bc: a critical review

  • Review
  • Published:
Vegetation History and Archaeobotany Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Grape (Vitis vinifera L. ssp. vinifera) has been identified as part of the Indus Civilization crop assemblage. As a non-native crop, with a wild ancestor that does not grow in the region, its presence in northern South Asia ca. 3200–1300 bc has thus been used to argue variously as evidence for crop diffusion, long distance trade, and the adoption of foreign agricultural strategies and foodways. Grape identification, particularly between wild and domesticated species, is complex. In this article the challenges of identifying ‘grape’ in South Asian antiquity are explored. The overreliance on length, breadth and thickness measurements, with limited description and a lack of standardisation are considered. Furthermore, an examination of the local flora demonstrates that there are multiple Vitaceae genera being possible ‘grape’ contenders in the region. Identification criteria for local Vitaceae need to be better developed to more understand the role of Indus grapes in order for the complicated social interpretations of ‘what grapes means in the Indus’ to be maintained.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2

Modified from Willcox 1991: Fig. 12.7; left: histogram of frequency distribution of length:breadth index of Vitis sp. pips; right: scatter diagram of length and breadth measurements of Vitis sp. pips

Fig. 3

Modified from Tiffney and Barghoorn 1976: Fig. 1

Fig. 4
Fig. 5

Similar content being viewed by others

Availability of data and material (data transparency)

Supplementary Information / N/A.

References

  • Aradhya MK, Dangl GS, Prins BH et al (2003) Genetic structure and differentiation in cultivated grape, Vitis vinifera L. Genet Res 81:179–192

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Indian Archaeology, a Review, 1983–1984

  • Indian Archaeology, a Review, 1984–1985

  • Arroyo-García R, Ruiz-García L, Bolling L et al (2006) Multiple origins of cultivated grapevine (Vitis vinifera L. ssp. sativa) based on chloroplast DNA polymorphisms: multiple origins of cultivated grapevine. Mol Ecol 15:3707–3714. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-294X.2006.03049.x

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bates J (2019a) Oilseeds, spices, fruits and flavour in the Indus Civilization. J Archaeol Sci Rep 24:879–887. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jasrep.2019.02.033

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bates J (2019b) The Published Archaeobotanical Data from the Indus Civilization, South Asia, c. 3200–1500 BC. J Open Archaeol Data 7:5. https://doi.org/10.5334/joad.57

  • Bouby L, Figueiral I, Bouchette A et al (2013) Bioarchaeological Insights into the Process of Domestication of Grapevine (Vitis vinifera L.) during Roman Times in Southern France. PLoS ONE 8:e63195. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0063195

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bouby L, Bonhomme V, Ivorra S et al (2018) Back from burn out: are experimentally charred grapevine pips too distorted to be characterized using morphometrics? Archaeol Anthropol Sci 10:943–954. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12520-016-0425-x

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bouby L, Wales N, Jalabadze M et al (2021) Tracking the history of grapevine cultivation in Georgia by combining geometric morphometrics and ancient DNA. Veget Hist Archaeobot 30:63–76. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00334-020-00803-0

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Brizicky GK (1965) The Genera of Vitaceae in the Southeastern United States. J Arnold Arbor 46:48–67

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Capper MM (2012) Urban Subsistence in the Bronze and Iron Ages: The Palaeoethnobotany of Tell Tayinat. Simon Fraser University, Deptartment of Archaeology, Burnaby, British Columbia, Turkey

    Google Scholar 

  • Cartwright CR (2003) Grapes or raisins? An early Bronze Age larder under the microscope. Antiquity 77:345–348. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0003598X00092322

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Châtaignier C (1995) La Transcaucasie au Néolithique et au Chalcolithique. BAR International Series 624. Bar Publishing, Oxford

  • Chen I, Manchester SR (2007) Seed morphology of modern and fossil Ampelocissus (Vitaceae) and implications for phytogeography. Am J Bot 94:1534–1553. https://doi.org/10.3732/ajb.94.9.1534

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chen I, Manchester SR (2011) Seed Morphology of Vitaceae. Int J Plant Sci 172:1–35. https://doi.org/10.1086/657283

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Çizer Ö (2006) Archaeobotanical macro remains from Late Bronze Age Kinet Höyük and Tell Atchana (Alalakh) in southern Turkey: Economical and environmental considerations. M.A. thesis, university Tübingen

  • Costantini L (1979) Wood remains from Shahr-i-Shokta: a source of information for the ancient environment and technology in protohistoric Sistan. In: Taddei M (ed) South Asian Archaeology 1977. Instituto Universitario Orientale, Naples, pp 87–121

    Google Scholar 

  • Costantini L (1979) Plant Remains at Pirak, Pakistan. In: Jarrige J-F, Santoni M, Ernault JF (eds) Fouilles de Pirak. Diffusion de Boccard, Paris, pp 326–333

    Google Scholar 

  • Costantini L (1979) Notes on the palaeoethnobotany of proto-historical Swat. In: Taddei M (ed) South Asian Archaeology 1977. Instituto Universitario Orientale, Naples, pp 703–708

    Google Scholar 

  • Costantini L (1981) Palaeoethnobotany at Pirak: a contribution to the 2nd millenium BC of the Sibi-Kacchi Plain. In: Härtel H (ed) South Asian Archaeology 1979. Reimer, Berlin, pp 271–277

    Google Scholar 

  • Costantini L (1984) The beginnings of agriculture in the Kachi Plain: the evidence from Mehrgarh. In: Allchin B (ed) South Asian Archaeology 1981. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, pp 29–33

    Google Scholar 

  • Costantini L (1987) Appendix B. Vegetal Remains. In: Stacul G (ed) Prehistoric and Protohistoric Swat, Pakistan. Instituto Italiano per il Medio es Estremo Oriente, Rome, pp 155–165

    Google Scholar 

  • Costantini L (1990) Harappan Agriculture in Pakistan: the evidence from Nausharo. In: Taddei M (ed) South Asian Archaeology 1987. Instituto Italiano per il Medio es Estremo Oriente, Rome, pp 321–332

    Google Scholar 

  • Costantini L, Costantini-Biasini L (1985) Agriculture in Baluchistan between the 7th and the 3rd Millennium B.C. Newsl Baluchistan Stud 2:16–30

    Google Scholar 

  • Deckers K (2010) Anthracological Research on Charcoal Samples from Atchana. In: Yener KAS (ed) Tell Atchana, Ancient Alalakh. The 2003–2004 Excavations Seasons. Koç Üniversitesi Yayınları, Istanbul, pp 137–139

  • Fuller DQ, Madella M (2002) Issues in Harappan Archaeobotany: retrospect and prospect. In: Settar S, Korisettar R (eds) Indian Archaeology in Retrospect II: Protohistory. Manohar, New Delhi, pp 317–390

  • Fuller DQ, Stevens CJ (2019) Between domestication and civilization: the role of agriculture and arboriculture in the emergence of the first urban societies. Veget Hist Archaeobot 28:263–282. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00334-019-00727-4

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Garnier N, Valamoti SM (2016) Prehistoric wine-making at Dikili Tash (Northern Greece): Integrating residue analysis and archaeobotany. J Archaeol Sci 74:195–206. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jas.2016.03.003

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gong F (2009) Vitis Seeds (Vitaceae) from the Late Neogene Gray Fossil Site, Northeastern Tennessee, USA. Electronic Theses and Dissertations, Paper 1819. https://dc.etsu.edu/etd/1819.

  • Grassi F, Labra M, Imazio S, Spada A, Sgorbati S, Scienza A, Sala F (2003) Evidence of a secondary grapevine domestication centre detected by SSR analysis. Theor Appl Genet 107:1315–1320. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00122-003-1321-1

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Habib S, Dang V-C, Ickert-Bond SM, Wen J, Chen Z-D, Lu L-M (2018) Evolutionary trends in Tetrastigma (Vitaceae): Morphological diversity and taxonomic implications: Morphological evolution of Tetrastigma. J Syt Evol 56:360–373. https://doi.org/10.1111/jse.12309

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hansen J, Renfrew JM (1978) Palaeolithic-Neolithic seed remains at Franchthi Cave, Greece. Nature 271:349–352. https://doi.org/10.1038/271349a0

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jarrige C, Jarrige J-F, Meadow RH, Quivron G (1995) Mehrgarh: Field reports 1974–1985 from Neolithic times to the Indus Civilization. The Department of Culture and Tourism, Karachi

  • Kashyap A, Weber SA (2010) Harappan plant use revealed by starch grains from Farmana. India Antiquity Project Gallery 84:326

    Google Scholar 

  • Kenoyer JM (1998) Ancient Cities of the Indus Valley. Oxford University Press, Oxford

    Google Scholar 

  • Khare CP (2007) Indian medicinal plants: an illustrated dictionary. Springer, New York

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Kirchheimer F (1938) Beiträge zur näheren Kenntnis von Vitaceen-Samenformen tertiären Alters. Planta 28:582–598

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kirchheimer F (1939) Rhamnales I: Vitaceae. In: Jongmans W (ed) Fossilium Catalogus II: Plantae 24. W. Junk, Berlin, p 21

    Google Scholar 

  • Kirchheimer F (1957) Die Laubgewächse der Braunkohlenzeit. W. Knapp, Halle

  • Kislev ME (1988) Fruit remains. In: Rothenberg B (ed) The Egyptian mining temple at Timna. University College, London, pp 236–242

    Google Scholar 

  • Kroll H (1999) Vor- und frühgeschichtliche Weinreben – wild oder angebaut? Trierer Zeitschrift 62:151–153

    Google Scholar 

  • Lacombe T, Di Vecchi M, Laucou V, Dechesne F, Varè D, This P (2004) Les populations de vignes sauvages du massif de l’Albera. In: Actes del Colloqui l’Albera i el patrimoni en l’espai transfronterer. Consell Comarcal de l’Alt Empordà, pp 313–322

  • Ladcucka-Srodoniowa M (1966) Tortonian flora from the “Gdow Bay” in the south of Poland. Acta Palaeobot 7:3–135

    Google Scholar 

  • Lancelotti C (2018) “Not all that burns is wood”: A social perspective on fuel exploitation and use during the Indus urban period (2600–1900 BC). PLoS ONE. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0192364

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Logothetis V (1970) The development of the vine and of viticulture in Greece based on archaeological findings in the area. Epistimoniki Epetiris Tis Geoponikis Kai Dasologikis Sholis, University of Thessaloniki 13:167–249

    Google Scholar 

  • Logothetis V (1974) The contribution of the vine and the wine to the civilization of Greece and Eastern Mediterranean. Epistimoniki Epetiris Tis Geoponikis Kai Dasologikis Sholis, University of Thessaloniki 17:5–286

    Google Scholar 

  • Mangafa M, Kotsakis K (1996) A new method for the identification of wild and cultivated charred grape seeds. J Archaeol Sci 23:409–418. https://doi.org/10.1006/jasc.1996.0036

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mangafa M, Kotsakis K, Stratis I (2001) The experimental charring of products of the grape vine and an investigation of its uses in antiquity. In: Bassiakos Y, Aloupi E, Fakorellis Y (eds) Archaeometric Studies for Greek Prehistory and Antiquity. Greek Archaeometric Society, Athens, pp 495–505

    Google Scholar 

  • Manokari M, Shekhawat MS (2019) An updated review on Cissus vitiginea L. (Family: Vitaceae)—An important medicinal climber. World News Nat Sci 22:75–83

    Google Scholar 

  • Marinval P (1997) Vigne sauvage et Vigne cultivée dans le Bassin méditerranéen. Emergence de la viticulture. Contribution archéo-botanique. In: Frissant P (ed) L’histoire Du Vin, Une Histoire de Rites. Office International de la Vigne et du Vin, Paris, pp 137–172

    Google Scholar 

  • Martín-Gómez JJ, Gutiérrez del Pozo D, Ucchesu M, Bacchetta G, Sáenz C, de Santamaría F, Tocino Á, Cervantes E (2020) Seed morphology in the vitaceae based on geometric models. Agronomy 10:739. https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy10050739

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Martinoli D (2004) Food plant use, temporal changes and site seasonality at Epipalaeolithic Öküzini and Karain B caves, southwest Anatolia, Turkey. Paléorient 30:61–80. https://doi.org/10.3406/paleo.2004.1011

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Masson VM, Sarianidi VI (1972) Central Asia and Turkmenia before the Achaemenids. Praeger, Southampton

    Google Scholar 

  • McGovern PE (2003) Ancient wine: the search for the origins of viniculture. Princeton University Press, Princeton

    Google Scholar 

  • McGovern PE, Rudolph HM (1996) The analytical and archaeological challenge of detecting ancient wine: two case studies from the ancient Near East. In: McGovern PE, Fleming SJ, Katz SH (eds) The Origins and Ancient History of Wine. Gordon and Breach, New York, pp 57–67

    Google Scholar 

  • McGovern PE, Glusker DL, Exner LJ, Voigt MM (1996) Neolithic resinated wine. Nature 381:480–481. https://doi.org/10.1038/381480a0

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Merinal S, Viji Stella Boi G (2012) Invitro Screening of Antimicrobial Potentials of Cissus quadrangularis L. Asian J Plant Sci Res 2:58–62

    Google Scholar 

  • Miki S (1956) Seed remains of Vitaceae in Japan. J Inst Polytech Osaka City Univ 7:247–271

    Google Scholar 

  • Miller NF (2008) Sweeter than wine? The use of the grape in early western Asia. Antiquity 82:937–946. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0003598X00097696

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Miller NF, Strosahl P (2013) Archaeobotanical samples from Kınık Höyük, Turkey. 2012 Excavation, University of Pennsylvania Museum Ethnobotanical Laboratory Report 57, Philadelphia

  • Myles S, Boyko AR, Owens CL et al (2011) Genetic structure and domestication history of the grape. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 108:3,530-3,535. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1009363108

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Negrul AM (1960) Archeological finds of seeds of grapes. Soviet Archaeol 1:111–119

    Google Scholar 

  • Olivelle P (2013) King, governance, and law in ancient India: Kauṭilya’s Arthaśāstra: a new annotated translation. Oxford University Press, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Pagnoux C, Bouby L, Valamoti SM et al (2021) Local domestication or diffusion? Insights into viticulture in Greece from Neolithic to Archaic times, using geometric morphometric analyses of archaeological grape seeds. J Archaeol Sci. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jas.2020.105263

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Petrie CA, Bates J (2017) “Multi-cropping”: intercropping and adaptation to variable environments in indus South Asia. J World Prehist 30:81–130. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10963-017-9101-z

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Petrie CA, Bates J, Higham T, Singh RN (2016) Feeding ancient cities in South Asia: dating the adoption of rice, millet and tropical pulses in the Indus Civilization. Antiquity 90:1,489-1,504. https://doi.org/10.15184/aqy.2016.210

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Phillips O (1991) The ethnobotany and economic botany of tropical vines. In: Putz FE, Mooney HA (eds) The Biology of Vines. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, pp 427–476

    Google Scholar 

  • Pokharia AK, Srivastava C (2013) Current Status of Archaeobotanical Studies in Harappan Civilization: an archaeological perspective. Heritage: J Multidiscip Stud Archaeol 1:118–137

    Google Scholar 

  • Portillo M, Ball TB, Wallace M et al (2020) Advances in Morphometrics in Archaeobotany. Environ Archaeol 25:246–256. https://doi.org/10.1080/14614103.2019.1569351

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Possehl GL (2002) The Indus civilization: a contemporary perspective. AltaMira Press, Walnut Creek, CA

    Google Scholar 

  • Ramos-Madrigal J, Runge AKW, Bouby L et al (2019) Palaeogenomic insights into the origins of French grapevine diversity. Nat Plants 5:595–603. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41477-019-0437-5

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Riehl S (2010) Flourishing Agriculture in Times of Political Instability. The Archaeobotanical and Isotopic Evidence from Tell Atchana. In: Yener KAS (ed) Tell Atchana, Ancient Alalakh. The 2003–2004 Excavation Seasons. Istanbul, Koç Üniversitesi Yayınları, pp 123–136

    Google Scholar 

  • Saraswat KS (1997) Economy of Barans at Sanghol (ca. 1900–1400 BC). Pragdhara 7:94–114

    Google Scholar 

  • Saraswat KS, Pokharia AK (2002) Harappan Plant Economy at Ancient Balu, Haryana. Pragdhara 12:153–172

    Google Scholar 

  • Saraswat KS, Pokharia AK (2003) Palaeoethnobotanical Investigations at Early Harappan Kunal. Pragdhara 13:105–140

    Google Scholar 

  • Schiemann E (1953) Vitis in Neolithicum der Mark Brandenburg. Züchter 23:318–327

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Singh U, Wadhwani AM, Johri BM (1965) Dictionary of Economic Plants in India. Indian Council of Agricultural Research, New Delhi

    Google Scholar 

  • Smith H, Jones G (1990) Experiments on the effects of charring on cultivated grape seeds. J Archaeol Sci 17:317–327. https://doi.org/10.1016/0305-4403(90)90026-2

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Snoussi H, Harbi Ben Slimane M, Ruiz-Garciá L, Martínez-Zapater JM, Arroyo-Garciá R (2004) Genetic relationship among cultivated and wild grapevine accessions from Tunisia. Genome 47:1211–1219

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Stummer A (1911) Zur Urgeschichte der Rebe und des Weinbaues. Mitteilungen Der Anthropologischen Gesellschaft in Wien 41:283–296

    Google Scholar 

  • Tengberg M (1999) Crop husbandry at Miri Qalat Makran, SW Pakistan (4000–2000 B.C.). Veget Hist Archaeobot 8:3–12

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Terpo A (1977) The carpological examination of wild-growing vine species of Hungry. 2: Qualitative and quantitative chraracteristics of vine seeds. Acta Bot Acad Sci Hungar 23:247–273

    Google Scholar 

  • Terral J-F, Tabard E, Bouby L et al (2010) Evolution and history of grapevine (Vitis vinifera) under domestication: new morphometric perspectives to understand seed domestication syndrome and reveal origins of ancient European cultivars. Ann Bot 105:443–455. https://doi.org/10.1093/aob/mcp298

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Thiébault S (1989) A note on the ancient vegetation of Baluchistan based on charcoal analysis of the latest periods from Mehrgarh, Pakistan. In: Frifelt K, Sørensen P (eds) South Asian Archaeology 1985. Curzon Press, London, pp 186–188

    Google Scholar 

  • Thiébault S (1992) Complementary Results in Anthracological Analysis from Sites in Baluchistan. In: Jarrige C (ed) South Asian Archaeology 1989. Prehistory Press, Madison, pp 271–276

    Google Scholar 

  • Thiébault S (1995) First results of the study of the ancient vegetation of Mehrgarh through anthracological analysis. In: Jarrige C, Jarrige J-F, Meadow RH, Quivron G (eds) Mehrgarh, Field Reports 1974–1985 - from Neolithic Time to the Indus Civilization. Department of Culture and Tourism Government of Sindh Pakistan in collaboration with French Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Karachi, p 524

    Google Scholar 

  • This P, Roux C, Parra P et al (2001) Caracté risation de la diversité d’une population de vignes sauvages du Pic Saint Loup (Hérault) et relations avec le compartiment cultivé. Genet Sel Evol 33(Suppl 1):S289–S304

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tiffney BH, Barghoorn ES (1976) Fruits and seeds of the brandon lignite. 1: Vitaceae. Rev Palaeobot Palynol 22:169–191. https://doi.org/10.1016/0034-6667(76)90001-4

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tipton CM (2008) Susruta of India, an unrecognized contributor to the history of exercise physiology. J Appl Physiol 104:1553–1556. https://doi.org/10.1152/japplphysiol.00925.2007

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Valamoti SM, Pagnoux C, Ntinou M, Bouby L, Bonhomme V, Terral J-F (2020) More than meets the eye: new archaeobotanical evidence on Bronze Age viticulture and wine making in the Peloponnese, Greece. Veget Hist Archaeobot 29:35–50. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00334-019-00733-6

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Vaquer J, Geddes D, Barbaza M, Erroux J (1986) Mesolithic lant exploitation at the Balma Abeurador (France). Oxford J Archeol 5:1–18. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1468-0092.1986.tb00127.x

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Vishnu-Mittre SR (1982) Food economy of the Harappans. In: Possehl GL (ed) Harappan civilization. Oxford and IBH Publishing Co. Pvt. Ltd., New Delhi, pp 205–221

    Google Scholar 

  • Vishnu-Mittre, (1974) Palaeobotanical evidence in India. In: Hutchinson J (ed) Evolutionary Studies in World Crops: Diversity and Change in the Indian Subcontinent. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, pp 3–30

    Google Scholar 

  • Weber SA (1991) Plants and Harappan Subsistence: an example of stability and change from Rojdi. Oxford and IBH Publishing Co. Pvt. Ltd., New Delhi

    Google Scholar 

  • Weber SA (2003) Archaeobotany at Harappa: Indications for change. In: Weber SA, Belcher WR (eds) Indus ethnobiology: New perspectives from the field. Lexington Books, Lanham, pp 175–198

    Google Scholar 

  • Weber SA, Kashyap A, Mounce L (2011) Archaeobotany at Farmana: new insights into Harappan plant use strategies. In: Shinde V, Osada T, Kumar M (eds) Excavations at Farmana District, Rohtak, Haryana, India 2006–2008. Research Institute for Humanity and Nature, Kyoto, pp 808–825

    Google Scholar 

  • Weber SA, Barela T, Lehman H (2011) Ecological Continuity: an explanation for agricultural diversity in the Indus Civilization and beyond. Man Environment 35:62–75

    Google Scholar 

  • Weiss E, Wetterstrom W, Nadel D, Bar-Yosef O (2004) The broad spectrum revisited: Evidence from plant remains. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 101:9,551-9,555. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.0402362101

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • White CE, Miller NF (2018) The archaeobotany of grape and wine in hittite anatolia. Die Welt Des Orients 48:209–224

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Willcox G (1991) Carbonised plant remains from Shortugai, Afghanistan. In: Renfrew JM (ed) New Light on Early Farming: Recent Developments in Palaeoethnobotany. Edinburg University Press, Edinburg, pp 139–153

    Google Scholar 

  • Zohary D (1996) The mode of domestication of the founder crops of the Southwest Asian agriculture. In: Harris DR (ed) The origin and spread of agriculture and pastoralism in Eurasia. University College London Press, London, pp 142–158

    Google Scholar 

  • Zohary D, Spiegel-Roy P (1975) Beginnings of fruit growing in the Old World. Science 187:319–327. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.187.4174.319

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zohary D, Hopf M, Weiss E (2012) Domestication of plants in the Old World: the origin and spread of domesticated plants in Southwest Asia, Europe, and the Mediterranean Basin, 4th edn. Oxford University Press, Oxford

    Book  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

This paper developed out of conversations with many people at the archaeology sessions of the Annual Conference on South Asia, Madison 2019. In particular discussions with session organiser Richard Meadow were inspiring and thought provoking, as have been conversations with Jonathon Mark Kenoyer. Further, this paper developed down new avenues from talking about grapes, Vitaceae and viticulture with Naomi Miller and Chantel White and their input, encouragement and comments have been invaluable. This paper has been commented on by R. Meadow, N. Miller and C. White and their suggestions have improved it greatly. I extend my thanks to them for their help at all stages of its development. I am grateful to Mark Nesbitt for his sage advice and helpful suggestions, Dana Lepofsky, Natalie Mueller, Jeffrey Wall for their advice and suggestions on a previous version of this manuscript, the patient editors at VHA during this dreadful year and the two anonymous reviewers for their sage comments in making this a better manuscript. I am also eternally grateful to Christina Shaw and Dave Kreyling for taking me into their 2020 bubble, giving me support and friendship while I tried to focus on writing and couldn’t go home for the holiday season.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Anthropology, Penn Museum, University of Pennsylvania, 3260 South Street, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA

    Jennifer Bates

Authors
  1. Jennifer Bates
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Contributions

J. Bates came up with the idea for the article, performed the literature search and data analysis, and drafted and critically revised the work.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Jennifer Bates.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of interest

The author declares that he has no conflict of interest.

Additional information

Communicated by S.M. Valamoti.

Publisher's Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Supplementary Information

Below is the link to the electronic supplementary material.

Supplementary file1 (DOCX 28 KB)

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Bates, J. Vitis sp., Vitaceae and viticulture in the Indus Civilization, South Asia ca. 3200–1500 bc: a critical review. Veget Hist Archaeobot 31, 205–220 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00334-021-00842-1

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00334-021-00842-1

Keywords

Search

Navigation