Analysis of Charred Lumps of Broomcorn Millet Found on the Late Bronze Age Settlement of Villiers-sur-Seine "Le Gros Buisson" (Seine-et-Marne department) Could they Result from Food Processing?

Numerous lumps of charred kernels of broomcorn millet (Panicum miliaceum) were found on the fortified site of Villiers-sur-Seine "le Gros Buisson", located in the Ile-de-France region and dated from the Late Bronze Age/Early Iron Age. In order to understand how these lumps formed (stocks fire is not likely), researches were done within archaeobotanical studies, and ethnographical and ethnohistorical surveys. Experiments with broomcorn millet were also carried out. Conclusions do not favour ready-to-eat processed food, but more likely thermic treatments of grains, which are very often quoted in ethnographical examples. Their goal is to facilitate dehusking or to allow better grain preservation. Other interpretations cannot be excluded but are out of the field of vegetal food processing; they cannot be demonstrated here.