Audio Guide: Agricultural Area
Regarding the agricultural proposal, several lines of research have been developed: the cultivation of different species and experimentation with the construction of silos of various shapes using different tools (wooden or metal), as well as studies on their use and eventual decommissioning.
The initial proposal involved simultaneously cultivating two 100 m2 plots: one with common wheat and the other with hulled barley, two of the cereals most frequently identified in the archaeobotanical samples recovered both at Els Estinclells and at other archaeological sites across the western Catalan plain.
This experiment also encouraged further research involving grapevines and olive trees.
The objective was not merely to produce; the aim was to experiment with both cultivation and the processing of final products—primarily flour, wine, and oil.
Cereal cultivation is located in the western sector of the CEP and is organized into two zones: one dedicated to strictly scientific experimentation and the other to the educational project.
The initial hypothesis guiding the agricultural branch was to assess whether ancient vegetation and crop systems could be reconstructed based on archaeobotanical samples.
In this regard, it was essential to consider the various stages of food processing when organizing the agricultural area of the CEP. These include cleaning (trampling, winnowing, sieving, etc.), processing (mills, mortars, and similar tools), and transformation (baking, boiling, and other methods) of plant products.
All these lines of research make it possible to evaluate aspects that can be historically reconstructed, such as agriculture and its processes, diet and culinary practices, medicine, the economy, and more.
Plants play a fundamental role in all historical cultures, and the protohistoric world is no exception. Beyond the aspects mentioned above, the plant world also holds significant importance in cultural and religious spheres.
To carry out the various experiments related to the world of agriculture, scientific criteria have been applied at all times.
At the CEP, it is considered that experiments must satisfy architectural and technical requirements, and they must also be subject to the test of time. In this specific case, since the experiment deals with agriculture, the details must be acceptable to both the agronomist and the crop specialist.
Once the experiment is completed, a comparison is made between the test results and the archaeological data.
If a correlation is found, the hypothesis is considered valid; if not, the initial hypothesis must be rejected. The experimentation process and its results may, in such cases, lead to the formulation of new hypotheses.
Currently, cereal experimentation at the CEP has been paused, but visitors can explore the vineyard and olive groves—elements linked to the production of the press discovered at the Iberian settlement. Additionally, the experimental silos, showcasing different morphologies and their respective operational stages, remain on display.
In the experimental “small silo field,” several empty silos can be observed: a truncated-cone silo, a globular one, and a cylindrical one, as well as a sealed example.
All points of interest:
1. Ditch and Wall Area
2. Settlement Entrance and Gate
3. Circular Street and Basin
4. Complex Housing District
5. Simple Housing District
6. Pressing Workshop
7. Open Area: Silos and Pits
8. Tiny Housing District
9. The Protohistory Experimental Field
10. Agricultural Area
11. Craftsmanship Area
