History of spelt

Two theories actually exist about the origin of Spelt. The first one claims, that Spelt originates like bread wheat from a cross between Emmer and the wild gras Triticum tauschii. This cross for Spelt was roughly at the same time and in the same region than the event of bread wheat around the Caspian Sea. This hypothesis is confirmed by archeological discovery of Spelt kernels in West Georgia and valleys of the Ararat mountains around 6.000 BC. The alternative theory claims a different origin of European and Asiatic spelt. Thereby, European Spelt traces back to a late cross of Emmer with bread wheat already in Europe.

The first cropping of Spelt in Central Europe was during the Bronze Age (1100 -800 BC) from the Southern Alps up to Sweden. Spelt was an important crop of the Celts and the main crop of the Alemannians. However, during industrialization, it was replaced by the higher yielding bread wheat until pioneers like Dr. Christof Kling started its re-cultivation in the late 1970ies.