Discover the ancient agricultural innovations at Tell Kadesh in Upper Galilee during the reign of Ptolemy II Philadelphus. Papyri archives reveal that Kadesh was a key site for grain disbursements under the rule of the Ptolemaic Kingdom of Egypt.
Renowned scholar Andrea Berlin from Boston University highlights how the Greek government of the Ptolemies introduced new bureaucratic roles and payment systems, with wheat being a common form of compensation.
Ancient papyri mention the introduction of improved garlic, chickpeas, walnuts, figs, pistachios, and various wheat varieties, including “Syrian wheat”, which remains a mystery in modern translation.
Could ‘Syrian wheat’ actually be Triticum aestivum? Berlin speculates on the possibility, connecting archaeological evidence with the chronology of wheat cultivation in Egypt.
Explore the transition from husked emmer wheat to durum wheat in Egyptian society and the intriguing disappearance of ‘Syrian wheat’ by the 2nd century AD.
Unravel the mysteries of ancient grain cultivation and governmental bureaucracy in this fascinating historical account.