It is likely that rye was brought westwards from Asia Minor as a secondary crop, meaning that it was a minor admixture in wheat as a result of Vavilovian mimicry, and was only later cultivated in its own right. Archeological evidence of this grain has been found in Roman contexts along the Rhine and the Danube and in Ireland and Britain. page 26. The Roman naturalist Pliny the Elder was dismissive of a grain that may have been rye, writing that it "is a very poor food and only serves to avert starvation". He said it was mixed with spelt "to mitigate its bitter taste, and even then is most unpleasant to the stomach".
It is likely that rye was brought westwards from Asia Minor as a secondary crop meaning that it was a minor admixture in wheat as a result of Vavilovian mimicry and was only later cultivated in its own right Archeological evidence of this grain has been found in Roman contexts along the Rhine and the Danube and in Ireland and Britain page 26 The Roman naturalist Pliny the Elder was dismissive of a grain that may have been rye writing that it "is a very poor food and only serves to avert starvation" He said it was mixed with spelt "to mitigate its bitter taste and even then is most unpleasant to the stomach"