The term “Neolithic founder crops” is used for the eight plant species that were first domesticated (about 7-10,000 years ago) by early farming communities in a region which is known as the Fertile Crescent in the Near East. Another term sometimes used is “Primary domesticates”.
The eight crops are:
- Flax (or Linseed)
- Emmer wheat
- Einkorn wheat
- Barley
- Lentil
- Pea
- Chickpea
- Bitter vetch
The map below shows the fertile crescent, the region where agriculture started.
