Grape (Vitis vinifera) use in the early modern Low Countries: a tentative combination of aDNA-analysis and historical sources

Historical sources show that cultivated grapevines (Vitis vinifera L. ssp. vinifera) grew in mediaeval and early modern city gardens and the gardens of country houses in the northern Low Countries (today’s Netherlands). Archaeobotanical analysis of cesspit samples often report hundreds to thousands of grape seeds per sieved macrobotanical soil sample. These seeds are invariably interpreted and recorded as (fresh) grape, currant or raisin. Unfortunately, neither (culinary) historians nor archaeobotanists have so far studied the exact possible uses of the grapes. This paper describes the results of our aim to ascertain if aDNA-analysis of archaeobotanical grape seeds from early modern cesspits can help identify grape variety, and in extension can be used to deduce provenance and use, i.e. how the grape was processed and consumed. In this pilot study, aDNA of six grape seeds found in early modern cesspits in the town of Delft, Holland, was analysed. The results show that two samples provided high quality endogenous DNA, three samples provided moderate levels of endogenous DNA, and one sample yielded basically no identifiable grape DNA. There is evidence for multiple varieties of grapes, ascribed to different European regions of origin. A kinship-analysis between the archaeological samples analysed and modern varieties shows that there are likely connections with Iberian grapes and a possible parent-offspring relation with Pinot. For some seeds, a raisin might be the most likely provenance, for others use as verjuice or fresh grapes is most likely. In all cases, grapes used for wine remain a possibility. The results of the aDNA and kinship analysis therefore provide novel insights into early modern grape consumption practices in general and provenance and potential processing of the grape seeds in particular.