Seed morphology uncovers 1500 years of vine agrobiodiversity before the advent of the Champagne wine

Vincent Bonhomme (1) , Jean-Frédéric Terral (1) , Véronique Zech-Matterne (2) , Sarah Ivorra (1) , Thierry Lacombe (3) , Gilles Deborde (4) , Philippe Kuchler (5) , Bertrand Limier (1) , Thierry Pastor (1) , Philippe Rollet (6) , Laurent Bouby (1)

1 UMR ISEM - Institut des Sciences de l'Evolution de Montpellier
2 AASPE - Archéozoologie, archéobotanique : sociétés, pratiques et environnements
3 UMR AGAP - Amélioration génétique et adaptation des plantes méditerranéennes et tropicales
4 Archéologies environnementales
5 Archéologie d'Alsace
6 Inrap - Institut national de recherches archéologiques préventives

A crucial aspect of viticulture is finally unveiled as the historical dynamics of its agrobiodiversity are described in the Champagne region for the first time. Outline analyses were carried out to compare the morphology of archaeological grape seeds from Troyes and Reims (first c. AD to fifteenth c. AD) with that of a reference collection of modern seeds, including wild vines and traditional grape varieties, believed to be ancient and characteristic of the French vine heritage. This allows us to document the chronological dynamics of the use of the wild Vitis type and of the diversity of the varieties used, based on morphological disparity. After showing the existence of morphological types corresponding to geographical groups, we highlight a geochronological dynamic. Our results show that the wild type is used throughout the series, up to the Middle Ages. In addition, domestic forms, morphologically related to southern varietal groups, are very early involved in the Champagne grape agrodiversity. The groups corresponding to the typical grape varieties of today do not appear until the second millennium. These previously unsuspected dynamics are discussed in light of the social, societal and climatic changes documented for the period.

Domaines: Biodiversité et Ecologie; Archéologie et Préhistoire

Vincent Bonhomme, Jean-Frédéric Terral, Véronique Zech-Matterne, Sarah Ivorra, Thierry Lacombe, et al.. Seed morphology uncovers 1500 years of vine agrobiodiversity before the advent of the Champagne wine. Scientific Reports, 2021, 11, pp.2305. ⟨10.1038/s41598-021-81787-3⟩. ⟨hal-03234735⟩