TAA i.3.2.20
Typewritten and annotated report on botanical remains, page 15.
© Griffith Institute,
University of Oxford
15.
Lens escula/<en>ta Moench. <[>Leguminosae<]>; Lentil.
A few Lentil seeds were found in some samples.
Lentils are widely cultivated in the Mediterranean
Region and frequent as an escape (Herb. Kew.). They form
an article of food known from ancient times (Watt), lentils
having been cultivated in Palestine and also in Egypt, espe-
cially in the Delta, near Phacusa, i.e. Lentil-town, Phakos
being the Greek name for Lentil (Woenig/<.>, quoting Dioscorides).
Lentils have been found among offerings to the dead in
Egypt (Schw. 2). The lentil is one of the commonest cereals
in Egypt today, and a very important food in Upper Egypt
among the fellaheen (Carter).,
nos. 146 (?); 277 (large & small box); 401, 355;
454, 476, 573C; 614F.