The article aims at presenting some aspects of environmental reconstruction through pollen analysis from archaeological contexts. The anthropogenic pollen transport into archaeological sites is regarded as an interesting tool to improve knowledge on flora and vegetation in the area of influence of sites. The zoophilous plants can be found more easily than in the regional airborne pollen rain where anemophilous pollen is generally overrepresented. Moreover, pollen from archaeological contexts is mainly a result of the cultural landscape shaped by human activities. Two case studies from the Bradano Valley (Basilicata, southern Italy), rich in archaeological sites dating altogether from the Middle Bronze Age to the Medieval age, are reported. Difesa San Biagio and its surroundings is one of the biggest settlements of the area, settled in early times by Enotrians. Altojanni is an extended area mainly frequented in Hellenistic, Roman late Imperial and Medieval times. A very open landscape, and clear signs of plant exploitation and cultivation, breeding and settlements were present in the two sites. Though samples are disturbed and preservation problems are sometimes observed, the main characters of pollen spectra are recurrent. High percentages of Poaceae and Cichorioideae, together with coprophilous fungal spores, strongly suggest a long tradition of pastoral activities. These case study examples suggest that human activities would have produced a fairly xeric environment.

Pollen from archaeological layers and cultural landscape reconstruction: case studies from the Bradano Valley (Basilicata, southern Italy) / Mercuri, Anna Maria; Florenzano, Assunta; MASSAMBA N'SIALA, Isabella; Olmi, Linda; Roubis, D.; Sogliani, F.. - In: PLANT BIOSYSTEMS. - ISSN 1724-5575. - STAMPA. - 144 (4):(2010), pp. 888-901. [10.1080/11263504.2010.491979]

Pollen from archaeological layers and cultural landscape reconstruction: case studies from the Bradano Valley (Basilicata, southern Italy)

MERCURI, Anna Maria;FLORENZANO, Assunta;MASSAMBA N'SIALA, Isabella;OLMI, Linda;
2010

Abstract

The article aims at presenting some aspects of environmental reconstruction through pollen analysis from archaeological contexts. The anthropogenic pollen transport into archaeological sites is regarded as an interesting tool to improve knowledge on flora and vegetation in the area of influence of sites. The zoophilous plants can be found more easily than in the regional airborne pollen rain where anemophilous pollen is generally overrepresented. Moreover, pollen from archaeological contexts is mainly a result of the cultural landscape shaped by human activities. Two case studies from the Bradano Valley (Basilicata, southern Italy), rich in archaeological sites dating altogether from the Middle Bronze Age to the Medieval age, are reported. Difesa San Biagio and its surroundings is one of the biggest settlements of the area, settled in early times by Enotrians. Altojanni is an extended area mainly frequented in Hellenistic, Roman late Imperial and Medieval times. A very open landscape, and clear signs of plant exploitation and cultivation, breeding and settlements were present in the two sites. Though samples are disturbed and preservation problems are sometimes observed, the main characters of pollen spectra are recurrent. High percentages of Poaceae and Cichorioideae, together with coprophilous fungal spores, strongly suggest a long tradition of pastoral activities. These case study examples suggest that human activities would have produced a fairly xeric environment.
2010
144 (4)
888
901
Pollen from archaeological layers and cultural landscape reconstruction: case studies from the Bradano Valley (Basilicata, southern Italy) / Mercuri, Anna Maria; Florenzano, Assunta; MASSAMBA N'SIALA, Isabella; Olmi, Linda; Roubis, D.; Sogliani, F.. - In: PLANT BIOSYSTEMS. - ISSN 1724-5575. - STAMPA. - 144 (4):(2010), pp. 888-901. [10.1080/11263504.2010.491979]
Mercuri, Anna Maria; Florenzano, Assunta; MASSAMBA N'SIALA, Isabella; Olmi, Linda; Roubis, D.; Sogliani, F.
File in questo prodotto:
Non ci sono file associati a questo prodotto.
Pubblicazioni consigliate

Licenza Creative Commons
I metadati presenti in IRIS UNIMORE sono rilasciati con licenza Creative Commons CC0 1.0 Universal, mentre i file delle pubblicazioni sono rilasciati con licenza Attribuzione 4.0 Internazionale (CC BY 4.0), salvo diversa indicazione.
In caso di violazione di copyright, contattare Supporto Iris

Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11380/648380
Citazioni
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.pmc??? ND
  • Scopus 58
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.isi??? 52
social impact