摘要：Abstract
There is increasing evidence for crop cultivation
at sites of the Neolithic Swifterbant culture from
ca. 4300 B.C. onwards. Presence of cereal fields at the
Swifterbant S2, S3 and S4 sites has been corroborated from
micro morphological studies of soil samples. Swifterbant
sites with evidence for cultivated plants are still scarce
though and only emerging, and have produced very low
numbers of charred cereals only. The major aim of our
work was to elucidate the environmental background of
the Dutch Neolithic site Swifterbant S4 based on the investigation
of phytolith remains retrieved from soil samples.
In addition to find evidence for crop cultivation independently
from other studies. Samples were taken at
1 cm intervals vertically from the soil section at the central
profile of site S4. Additional samples were taken from
pocket-like structures and adjacent horizons above and
below. Pig coprolites yielded an astonishing phytolith assemblage
which was compared to that of the soil samples.
A pig tooth also yielded evaluable material via detailed investigation
using SEM. The evaluation of phytolith assemblages
retrieved from the soil horizons plus those ending
up in the droppings of pigs feasting in the area enabled
to draw a relatively reliable environmental picture of the
area. All these refer to the presence of a Neolithic horticulture
(cereal cultivation) under balanced micro-climatic
conditions as a result of the vicinity of the nearby floodplain.
These findings corroborate those of previous soil
micro-morphological studies.
