The significance of acorns in the daily life and cultural imagination of the pre-Roman peoples of the Meseta: the case of Numantia (4th-2nd century B.C.)

Abstract

This article analyses the role of acorns in the daily life and collective imagination of the Meseta communities during the Late Iron Age, focusing on the oppidum of Numantia. Based on the study of classical sources, it examines the climate and acorn consumption, linking them to archaeobotanical evidence from the archaeological record. The exploitation of acorns from holm oaks and other Quercus species is explored, highlighting their economic and nutritional significance. The iconography of the acorn in the pre-Roman context is addressed as a symbolic indicator of its cultural value. Through a GIS approach, potential land use maps are presented to contextualise the availability of forest resources in the Numantia area, complemented by estimates of the oppidum’s population and territory. Finally, the productive capacities of acorns and their nutritional contribution are discussed, assessing their potential as a food resource in a context marked by agricultural and climatic limitations. The conclusions emphasise the importance of acorns not only as a food resource but also as an integrative element in the Numantine economy and collective imagery.