Integrating archaeobotany, paleogenetics and historical linguistics may cast more light onto crop domestication: the case of pea ( Pisum sativum )

This short communication intends to discuss various models and ideas about the very beginnings of plant domestication in the Old World with a specific emphasis on pea ( Pisum sativum L.) as one of the most significant crops in the human civilization. It presents a selection of some recent achievements and challenges in studying the earliest days of this important grain legume species by balanced contributions from archaeobotany, paleogenetics and historical linguistics. It will hopefully stimulate a fruitful interdisciplinary discussion and provide a basis for new experimental approaches.