@book{2026:di_paolo:plants_and,
title = {Plants and Humans in the Ancient Near East: Roots of Multispecies Connections},
year = {2026},
note = {This volume explores the role of plants in the ancient Near East
through a multidisciplinary approach that integrates archaeology,
philology, archaeobotany, and the history of religions. It examines
the significance of plant species not only as economic and dietary
resources (passive role) but also as fundamental elements in the
co-production of space with humans to forge symbolic systems,
religious practices, and artistic representations. By carefully
analyzing textual sources, archaeological and iconographic evidence,
and archaeobotanical remains, this volume presents selected case
studies on the interactions between human societies and the plant
world in the region. In recent years, scholarly interest in plants
within the context of the ancient Near East has grown significantly,
aligning with the development of the Environmental Humanities and the
emergence of Critical Plant Studies. This evolving theoretical and
methodological perspective forms the core of two research initiatives:
the BioANE project (Biodiversity in the Ancient Near East), directed
by Silvana Di Paolo and Gioele Zisa, and the PLANET project (Plants in
the Ancient Near Eastern Texts), coordinated by Gioele Zisa. This
volume stands at the intersection of these two projects, offering
fresh insights into how ancient Near Eastern cultures perceived,
utilized, and represented plants. But not only that: the collected
studies highlight the complexity of these relationships, challenging
anthropocentric perspectives and proposing an interpretation that
acknowledges plants as active participants in the region’s cultural
and environmental history. By exploring the intricate relationships
between humans and plants in the ancient Near East, this volume
challenges anthropocentric perspectives and highlights the agency of
vegetal beings in shaping cultural, religious, and economic
landscapes. In doing so, it contributes to a growing scholarly
discourse that redefines our understanding of the natural world as an
active participant in historical processes, urging us to rethink the
boundaries between nature and culture.                               
                             Reihe                               
wEdge - 6},
edition = {1},
publisher = {Zaphon},
address = {Münster},
series = {wEdge / Cutting-Edge Research in Cuneiform Studies},
volume = {6},
editor = {Di Paolo, Silvana and Zisa, Gioele}
}