This dissertation examines the diachronic development of tree fruit processing and its role in ancient economies across the Eastern Mediterranean and Armenia (10,000–700 BCE). By integrating archaeobotanical data, processing equipment analysis and comparative ethnographic studies, it traces the transition of grapes, olives, figs, pomegranates and dates from local consumption to large-scale production of value-added commodities such as raisins, wine, vinegar and oil. The study addresses key questions on the extent of tree fruit exploitation, technological advancements, regional variations and the economic significance of these commodities.
A major contribution of this study is its interdisciplinary methodology, which integrates archaeobotanical evidence, material culture and ethnographic analogies. The use of GIS to map botanical remains enables spatial and temporal analyses of fruit exploitation, while assessments of historical processing techniques and the mechanical efficiency of pressing equipment provide insights into labour organisation, production scales, and technological choices in ancient communities. To deepen this analysis, mechanical engineering principles are applied to evaluate processing equipment in terms of usability, operational ease, efficiency, labour demands, pressure dynamics, processing time, production volume and product quality. Finally, a case study from the Urartian region introduces a novel framework for identifying absent or underrepresented production technologies, demonstrating that the lack of physical remains does not necessarily equate to an absence of industrial activity.
Findings indicate a gradual, regionally diverse transition influenced by ecological conditions, processing innovations and socio-economic factors. Early societies consumed fruits, with scant evidence of processing but by the Chalcolithic and Bronze Ages, increased archaeobotanical remains and simple installations point to early surplus production. In the Late Bronze and Iron Ages, the emergence of large-scale pressing equipment, including lever and weight presses, marked a shift toward organised, trade-oriented production. Regional disparities reveal different trajectories in fruit processing, with advanced installations yielding greater efficiency and standardisation, supporting extensive trade networks, while small-scale methods persisted in balancing subsistence needs and surplus trade. This research deepens our understanding of ancient horticultural economies, technological evolution and the socio-economic impacts of fruit processing.
