Dear colleagues,

We recently found a Physalis alkekengi seed in an early Roman context in the Netherlands.

The feature in which it was found has very few Dutch parallels and may –based on more rather unusual finds- have been a place of ritual activity.

According to our national database RADAR the only find of Physalis we have in the Netherlands, besides finds in late-medieval and more recent (cess pit) contexts, is one in a middle-neolithic filling of a paleochannel, suggesting it was likely part of the natural vegetation. However, we have no other Dutch finds to support this.

I’m looking for any literature, pre-medieval finds elsewhere in Europe or any other potential sources of information on the occurrence of Physalis alkekengi. If anyone has access to the following publication I would be very grateful:

Villaret-von Rochow, M., 1967. Frucht- und Samenresten aus der Neolitischen Station Seeberg, Burgäschisee-süd. Acta Bernensa 11 (4): 21-64.

All the best and many thanks!
Frederike Verbruggen