Fertilization Practices in Al-Andalus: Off-Site Records, Domestic Waste and Manure Management Practices

Abstract

This study explores agricultural fertilization practices in al-Andalus—the Medieval Islamic territory in Iberia—through textual sources and the archaeological record. Following research on the off-site record, it is suggested that the presence of Andalusi ceramic fragments in cultivated fields is not accidental but rather the result of intentional use due to their incorporation into fertilizer produced in domestic environments. Through the analysis of Andalusi geoponic treatises, it is demonstrated that ceramics, along with other waste materials such as construction debris, were added to compost to enhance soil quality. Despite the increasing application of offsite record studies in Iberian archaeological research, the role of domestic waste in Andalusi agricultural practices remains understudied. This paper seeks to bridge that gap by integrating written sources with archaeological survey data, thus providing new insights into Andalusi agricultural landscapes. The findings emphasize the need for interdisciplinary approaches that combine archaeology, geoarchaeology, and historical sources to reconstruct medieval cultivation strategies.