The present study concerns the Phoenician-Punic site of Motya, a small island set in Western Sici... more The present study concerns the Phoenician-Punic site of Motya, a small island set in Western Sicily (Italy), in the Marsala Lagoon (Stagnone di Marsala), between Trapani and Marsala. A big disposal pit, datable to between the first half of the 8th and the mid-6th century bc, was identified in Area D. This context was sampled for plant macro-remains through bucket flotation. Palynological treatment and analysis were also performed on soil samples collected from each of the identified filling layers. The combination of the study of macro- and micro-remains has shown to be effective in answering questions concerning introduced food plants and agricultural practices, and native plants, including timber use. Here we investigate if a waste context can provide information about Phoenicians at Motya and their impact on the local plant communities. We found that human diet included cereals (mostly naked wheat), pulses and fruits. A focus was placed on weeds (including Lolium temulentum and P...
Archaeobotanical remains from the Phoenician – Punic site of Motya, set in the Marsala Lagoon in ... more Archaeobotanical remains from the Phoenician – Punic site of Motya, set in the Marsala Lagoon in Western Sicily (Italy), were collected through flotation and sieving during the excavation campaigns...
Archaeobotany is the discipline that merges botany with archaeology. It is based on the study of ... more Archaeobotany is the discipline that merges botany with archaeology. It is based on the study of plant fossils found in archaeological contexts with the aim to reconstruct plant use and diets of ancient populations, as well as the environment and the climate of the past, focusing on how people have adapted to them and reacted to their changes. Plant fossils include seeds and fruits (carpology), wood and charcoals (xylology and anthracology) and pollen (palynology). In the present study, archaeobotany is applied on the Phoenician site of Motya, a small island set in Westerm Sicily, in the middle of the Mediterranean. Although the Phoenician-Punic period (late 8th century B.C. – 397 B.C.) represents the main occupational phase of the archaeological settlement, the island is known to have been occupied by indigenous populations since the 17th century BC and continued to be inhabited also after the Siege of Motya (397/6 B.C.), despite not recovering its former importance (Nigro and Spagnoli, 2017). Despite of knowledge regarding their use of plants and their impact on the environment being limited, a key-role in the spread of wine and olive oil production is attributed to Phoenicians (Estreicher, 2013). This is reflected by the findings at Motya, were Vitis vinifera (grape) seeds and Olea europaea (olive) wood are among the main findings. The carpological assemblage of the disposal pit 1112, found on the western slopes of the Acropolis and roughly ascribed to the 7th century B.C., reveals a lot about the diet of Phoenicians at Motya. This was comprised of a wide variety of cereals (including Hordeum vulgare, Triticum monococcum, T. dicoccum and T. aestivum/durum), pulses (Cicer arietinum, Lathyrus sp., Pisum sativum, Vicia faba and V. ervilia) and fruits. Among these is also Punica granatum (pomegranate), found in the form of exocarp fragments, which was allegedly brought by Phoenicians to Motya and to Northern Africa around the 8th century BC. Representations of this fruit are also found in the form of ceramic vessels (Nigro and Spagnoli, 2018). In terms of wood species, other than Olea europaea, also Quercus type suber (evergreen oaks) and Pistacia lentiscus (mastik) are widely represented. The presence of evergreen oaks is also confirmed by pollen evidence. Other anthracological remains include small Mediterranean shrubs such as Rhamnus sp. Further analyses will include pollen studies and morphometric analyses on the retrieved grape pips. The preliminary results already show the potential of combining carpology, anthracology and palynology to get an overall image of the paleoenvironment and paleodiets. This has been highlighted by other studies (Sabato et al., 2015), but still represents a novelty in the field. References Estreicher, S. K. . Wine. The Encyclopedia of Ancient History (2013), 1-6. Nigro L., Spagnoli F., Pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) from Motya and its deepest oriental roots, Vicino Oriente XXII (2018), 49-90 Nigro L., Spagnoli F., Landing on Motya. The earliest Phoenician settlement of the 8th century BC and the creation of a West Phoenician cultural identity in the excavations of Sapienza University of Rome - 2012-2016, Quaderni di Archeologia Fenicio Punica (2017). Sabato D., Masi A., Pepe C., Ucchesu M., Peña-Chocarro L., Usai A., Giachi G., Capretti C., Bacchetta G., Archaeobotanical analysis of a Bronze Age well from Sardinia: A wealth of knowledge, Plant Biosystems - An International Journal Dealing with all Aspects of Plant Biology, 149:1 (2015), 205-215.
Results from geomorphological investigations in the catchment of Lago di Mezzano (VT) have been c... more Results from geomorphological investigations in the catchment of Lago di Mezzano (VT) have been compared with data from a long sediment core sampled in the lake center. The palaeoenvironmental reconstruction was based on vegetation (deduced from pollen and microcharcoal) and hydrological (reconstructed through lake-level) changes. RIASSUNTO: Sadori L. & Giraudi C., Confronto tra variazione di livelli lacustri, dati palinologici e sedimentologi al Lago di Mezzano (VT), Italia centrale. (IT ISSN 0394-3356, 2011) I risultati ottenuti da indagini geomorfologiche condotte nel bacino del Lago di Mezzano sono stati messi a confronto con dati ottenuti da una carota di sedimento campionata al centro del lago. La ricostruzione paleoambientale è stata basata su variazioni vegetazionali, dedotte dal polline e dai micro carboni, e idrologiche, ricostruite tramte le variazioni di livello lacustre.
The Etruscan Domus of the Dolia remained hidden until 2009, when archaeological excavations began... more The Etruscan Domus of the Dolia remained hidden until 2009, when archaeological excavations began in the Etruscan–Roman district of Vetulonia (Southern Tuscany). Based on the classification of the archaeological materials recovered, the destruction of the Domus and the Etruscan city of Vetulonia was traced back to the 1st century BC. The highly various and precious materials recovered inside the Domus revealed the richness of the building and its inhabitants. With this study, we present the anthracological analyses from the Domus of the Dolia. Wood charcoals were recovered from different house rooms, which had different functions based on the archaeological evidence. The tree species employed for the construction of the roof of the building were deciduous and semi-deciduous oak wood (Quercus sect. robur, Quercus sect. cerris) and silver fir wood (Abies cf. alba). Evergreen oak wood (Quercus sect. suber), boxwood (Buxus sempervirens), beech wood (Fagus cf. sylvatica), maple wood (Ace...
Chiarini E. et al., Plio-Quaternary geological evolution of the high Salto river valley (Central ... more Chiarini E. et al., Plio-Quaternary geological evolution of the high Salto river valley (Central Italy): the Marano de' Marsi unit. (IT ISSN 0394-3356, 2009). This paper summarizes the results of multidisciplinary researches carried out in a wide span of time on the earliest continental depo- sits of the high Salto River valley. The study led us to characterize sedimentary environments, to analyze their relationships and to pro- pose a chronological attribution. Facies are referable to a complex depositional system consisting of a Gilbert-type lacustrine delta and of slope-type partly interfingered fan deltas coming from the eastern border of the basin. The geological data collected allowed us to refer the succession to a single sedimentary cycle; in Marano de' Marsi area the paleodrainage and progradation directions were also recognized. To better constrain the chronological, paleoclimatic and paleoenvironmental context, detailed investigations have been conducted on peliti...
The Etruscan Domus of the Dolia remained hidden until 2009, when archaeological excavations began... more The Etruscan Domus of the Dolia remained hidden until 2009, when archaeological excavations began in the Etruscan–Roman district of Vetulonia (Southern Tuscany). Based on the classification of the archaeological materials recovered, the destruction of the Domus and the Etruscan city of Vetulonia was traced back to the 1st century BC. The highly various and precious materials recovered inside the Domus revealed the richness of the building and its inhabitants. With this study, we present the anthracological analyses from the Domus of the Dolia. Wood charcoals were recovered from different house rooms, which had different functions based on the archaeological evidence. The tree species employed for the construction of the roof of the building were deciduous and semi-deciduous oak wood (Quercus sect. robur, Quercus sect. cerris) and silver fir wood (Abies cf. alba). Evergreen oak wood (Quercus sect. suber), boxwood (Buxus sempervirens), beech wood (Fagus cf. sylvatica), maple wood (Ace...
Interdisciplinaria Archaeologica - Natural Sciences in Archaeology
This paper reports the archaeobotanical and archaeozoological data from a disposal pit, whose use... more This paper reports the archaeobotanical and archaeozoological data from a disposal pit, whose use started after the partial closure of a staircase, and from a mortar surface within a former porch in the Santi Quattro Coronati complex in Rome, Italy. The two contexts were in use in the Early Modern Age, when the complex served as a cardinal seat. The element that distinguishes the Santi Quattro Coronati from other contemporaneous contexts is the presence of New World species, until now only hypothesized based on a letter sent by the first resident bishop in Santo Domingo to Lorenzo Pucci, then cardinal with the titulus of the Santi Quattro Coronati. Pumpkin seeds (Cucurbita pepo and C. maxima/ moschata) were found in the pit, while a pelvis of guinea pig (Cavia porcellus) was found in a former porch. Numerous archaeobotanical remains preserved by mummification, identified mostly as food, and many archaeozoological specimens were found in the pit. Based on the data, it is hypothesized that the pit was used mainly as a deposit for table waste. The results as a whole help towards the investigation of the eating customs and daily habits of a Renaissance high-status clerical community.
This paper compares changes in vegetation structure and composition (using synthetic fossil polle... more This paper compares changes in vegetation structure and composition (using synthetic fossil pollen data) with proxy data for population levels (including settlements and radiocarbon dates) over the course of the last 10 millennia in Tyrrhenian central Italy. These data show generalised patterns of clearance of woodland in response both to early agriculturalists and urbanism, as well as the specific adoption of tree crops and variations in stock grazing. The results provide a comprehensive understanding of the development of the anthropogenised landscape of one of the most important early centres of European civilisation, showing regional trends as well as local variations.
This paper reports the archaeobotanical and archaeozoological data from a disposal pit, whose use... more This paper reports the archaeobotanical and archaeozoological data from a disposal pit, whose use started after the partial closure of a staircase, and from a mortar surface within a former porch in the Santi Quattro Coronati complex in Rome, Italy. The two contexts were in use in the Early Modern Age, when the complex served as a cardinal seat. The element that distinguishes the Santi Quattro Coronati from other contemporaneous contexts is the presence of New World species, until now only hypothesized based on a letter sent by the first resident bishop in Santo Domingo to Lorenzo Pucci, then cardinal with the titulus of the Santi Quattro Coronati. Pumpkin seeds (Cucurbita pepo and C. maxima/moschata) were found in the pit, while a pelvis of guinea pig (Cavia porcellus) was found in a former porch. Numerous archaeobotanical remains preserved by mummification, identified mostly as food, and many archaeozoological specimens were found in the pit. Based on the data, it is hypothesized ...
Abstract The top 12 m of a lacustrine sediment sequence from Lago di Mezzano (42°36′N, 11°46′E, 4... more Abstract The top 12 m of a lacustrine sediment sequence from Lago di Mezzano (42°36′N, 11°46′E, 452 a.s.l., Latium, central Italy) have been palynologically investigated. The chronology was established on the basis of radiocarbon dates, measures of annual laminations and volcanic ashes. The continuous sequence provides new fundamental information on the Lateglacial and Holocene, periods often fragmented in Italian pollen records, identifying vegetation dynamics and climate changes occurring in the last 15,300 years. The record starts at the end of the last glacial, closely following the climate changes found at a global scale, with clear stadial and interstadial oscillations, and evidence of cold/dry and wet/warm climatic changes. The Holocene is mostly characterized by forests, evolving rapidly to mature mixed deciduous oak (starting from 11,000 years BP) and, passing through beech forests (starting from ca. 9000 years BP) and alder carrs (starting from ca. 7000 years) to the deeply human-modified present-day landscape. Evaluating the importance of the local and regional human impact is not straightforward. A peculiarity of Lago di Mezzano, as of other Mediterranean lacustrine sites, is that it behaves at times as an “on-site” locale, when human populations were immediately by the lake, and at times as an “off-site” when settlements were found further away. This pattern changed according to cultural and climatic variations, both correlated to the water level of the lake.
Our study aims to reconstruct climate changes that occurred at Lake Ohrid (south-western 15 Balka... more Our study aims to reconstruct climate changes that occurred at Lake Ohrid (south-western 15 Balkan Peninsula), the oldest extant lake in Europe, between 160 and 70 ka (covering part of Marine Isotope Stage-"MIS"-6 and all of MIS 5). A multi-method approach, including the "Modern Analogues Technique" and the "Weighted Averaging Partial Least-Squares Regression", is applied to the high-resolution pollen sequence of the DEEP site, collected from the central part of Lake Ohrid, to provide quantitative estimates of climate and bioclimate parameters. This allows us to document 20 climatic change during the key periods of MIS 6 and MIS 5 in South Europe, a region where accurate climate reconstructions are still lacking for this time interval. Our results for the penultimate glacial show cold and dry conditions, while the onset of the Last Interglacial is characterized by wet and warm conditions, with temperatures higher than today (by ca. 2°C). The Eemian in the Balkans was not a stable phase and a climatic tri-partition, with an initial phase 25 of abrupt warming (128-121 ka), a central phase with decreasing temperatures associated to wet conditions (121-118 ka), followed by a phase of progressive change towards cold and dry conditions (118-112 ka), is evident. After the Eemian, an alternation of four warm/wet periods with cold/dry ones, likely related to the succession of Greenland stadials and cold events known from the North Atlantic, occurred. The 30 observed pattern is also consistent with hydrological and isotopic data from the central Mediterranean. The Lake Ohrid climate reconstruction shows greater similarity with climate patterns inferred from northern European pollen records than with southern European ones, which is probably due to its intermediate position and the mountainous setting. However, this hypothesis needs further testing as very few climate reconstructions are available for southern Europe for this key time period. 35
In the DEEP core from the Lake Ohrid ICDP drilling project, the carbon isotope composition of bul... more In the DEEP core from the Lake Ohrid ICDP drilling project, the carbon isotope composition of bulk organic matter (δ 13 CTOC) over the last 516 ka shows a negative correlation with total 2 organic carbon (TOC) and total inorganic carbon (TIC). This relationship is marked by periods of lower δ 13 CTOC values corresponding to higher TIC and TOC. Along with TOC/TN, the correlation between δ 13 CTOC and δ 13 CTIC suggests that most of the organic matter in the core is from aquatic primary production within the lake. The combination of TOC, TIC, and δ 13 CTOC is able to disentangle long-term glacial/interglacial cycles and, to a lesser extent, millennial scale climate variability. Over the longer term, δ 13 CTOC shows modest variability, indicating that the δ 13 C of the dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) pool is stabilised by the supply of karst spring water characterised by δ 13 CDIC influenced by the bedrock δ 13 C value, and the long residence time of the lake water and well mixed upper water column promoting equilibration with atmospheric CO2. However, comparison between arboreal pollen (AP%), TIC and TOC data indicates that the δ 13 CTOC signal is modulated by the leaching of soil CO2 through runoff and spring discharge, changes in primary productivity, and recycling of organic matter within the lake, all affecting δ 13 CDIC. Exceptionally low δ 13 CTOC during some interglacial periods (e.g. MIS7 and MIS9) possibly indicate rapid intensification of organic matter recycling and/or increasing stratification and enhanced methanogenesis, even if the latter process is not supported by the sedimentological data.
In this study, we present lipid biomarker and palynological data for a sediment core from Lake Do... more In this study, we present lipid biomarker and palynological data for a sediment core from Lake Dojran (Macedonia/Greece), which covers the entire Holocene period. We analyzed vascular plant-derived n-alkanes, combustion-derived polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), fecal steroids, and bacterial and archaeal glycerol dialkyl glycerol tetraether (GDGT) lipids in concert with microcharcoal and pollen assemblages to reconstruct climatic, environmental, and human impact in the Dojran catchment and the greater Dojran area. Overall, our results suggest a relationship between anthropogenic activity and environmental/climatic change since increased human impact corresponds to phases of higher humidity and high lake levels at Lake Dojran. During the early Holocene, the record reveals increasing temperatures and humidity and concurrent increasing vegetation cover and runoff/soil erosion, respectively. Following a thermal maximum during the middle early Holocene, temperatures decrease gradua...
Climate evolution of the Mediterranean region during the Holocene exhibits strong spatial and tem... more Climate evolution of the Mediterranean region during the Holocene exhibits strong spatial and temporal variability. The spatial differentiation and temporal variability, as evident from different climate proxy datasets, has remained notoriously difficult for models to reproduce. In light of this complexity, we examine the previously described evidence for (i) opposing northern and southern precipitation regimes during the Holocene across the Mediterranean basin, and (ii) an east-to-west precipitation gradient or dipole during the early Holocene, from a wet eastern Mediterranean to dry western Mediterranean. Using quantitative climate information from marine and terrestrial pollen archives, we focus on two key time intervals, the early to mid-Holocene (8000 to 6000 cal yrs BP) and the late Holocene (4000 to 2000 yrs BP), in order to test the above mentioned hypotheses on a Mediterranean-wide scale. Palynologically derived climate information is comp...
The present study concerns the Phoenician-Punic site of Motya, a small island set in Western Sici... more The present study concerns the Phoenician-Punic site of Motya, a small island set in Western Sicily (Italy), in the Marsala Lagoon (Stagnone di Marsala), between Trapani and Marsala. A big disposal pit, datable to between the first half of the 8th and the mid-6th century bc, was identified in Area D. This context was sampled for plant macro-remains through bucket flotation. Palynological treatment and analysis were also performed on soil samples collected from each of the identified filling layers. The combination of the study of macro- and micro-remains has shown to be effective in answering questions concerning introduced food plants and agricultural practices, and native plants, including timber use. Here we investigate if a waste context can provide information about Phoenicians at Motya and their impact on the local plant communities. We found that human diet included cereals (mostly naked wheat), pulses and fruits. A focus was placed on weeds (including Lolium temulentum and P...
Archaeobotanical remains from the Phoenician – Punic site of Motya, set in the Marsala Lagoon in ... more Archaeobotanical remains from the Phoenician – Punic site of Motya, set in the Marsala Lagoon in Western Sicily (Italy), were collected through flotation and sieving during the excavation campaigns...
Archaeobotany is the discipline that merges botany with archaeology. It is based on the study of ... more Archaeobotany is the discipline that merges botany with archaeology. It is based on the study of plant fossils found in archaeological contexts with the aim to reconstruct plant use and diets of ancient populations, as well as the environment and the climate of the past, focusing on how people have adapted to them and reacted to their changes. Plant fossils include seeds and fruits (carpology), wood and charcoals (xylology and anthracology) and pollen (palynology). In the present study, archaeobotany is applied on the Phoenician site of Motya, a small island set in Westerm Sicily, in the middle of the Mediterranean. Although the Phoenician-Punic period (late 8th century B.C. – 397 B.C.) represents the main occupational phase of the archaeological settlement, the island is known to have been occupied by indigenous populations since the 17th century BC and continued to be inhabited also after the Siege of Motya (397/6 B.C.), despite not recovering its former importance (Nigro and Spagnoli, 2017). Despite of knowledge regarding their use of plants and their impact on the environment being limited, a key-role in the spread of wine and olive oil production is attributed to Phoenicians (Estreicher, 2013). This is reflected by the findings at Motya, were Vitis vinifera (grape) seeds and Olea europaea (olive) wood are among the main findings. The carpological assemblage of the disposal pit 1112, found on the western slopes of the Acropolis and roughly ascribed to the 7th century B.C., reveals a lot about the diet of Phoenicians at Motya. This was comprised of a wide variety of cereals (including Hordeum vulgare, Triticum monococcum, T. dicoccum and T. aestivum/durum), pulses (Cicer arietinum, Lathyrus sp., Pisum sativum, Vicia faba and V. ervilia) and fruits. Among these is also Punica granatum (pomegranate), found in the form of exocarp fragments, which was allegedly brought by Phoenicians to Motya and to Northern Africa around the 8th century BC. Representations of this fruit are also found in the form of ceramic vessels (Nigro and Spagnoli, 2018). In terms of wood species, other than Olea europaea, also Quercus type suber (evergreen oaks) and Pistacia lentiscus (mastik) are widely represented. The presence of evergreen oaks is also confirmed by pollen evidence. Other anthracological remains include small Mediterranean shrubs such as Rhamnus sp. Further analyses will include pollen studies and morphometric analyses on the retrieved grape pips. The preliminary results already show the potential of combining carpology, anthracology and palynology to get an overall image of the paleoenvironment and paleodiets. This has been highlighted by other studies (Sabato et al., 2015), but still represents a novelty in the field. References Estreicher, S. K. . Wine. The Encyclopedia of Ancient History (2013), 1-6. Nigro L., Spagnoli F., Pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) from Motya and its deepest oriental roots, Vicino Oriente XXII (2018), 49-90 Nigro L., Spagnoli F., Landing on Motya. The earliest Phoenician settlement of the 8th century BC and the creation of a West Phoenician cultural identity in the excavations of Sapienza University of Rome - 2012-2016, Quaderni di Archeologia Fenicio Punica (2017). Sabato D., Masi A., Pepe C., Ucchesu M., Peña-Chocarro L., Usai A., Giachi G., Capretti C., Bacchetta G., Archaeobotanical analysis of a Bronze Age well from Sardinia: A wealth of knowledge, Plant Biosystems - An International Journal Dealing with all Aspects of Plant Biology, 149:1 (2015), 205-215.
Results from geomorphological investigations in the catchment of Lago di Mezzano (VT) have been c... more Results from geomorphological investigations in the catchment of Lago di Mezzano (VT) have been compared with data from a long sediment core sampled in the lake center. The palaeoenvironmental reconstruction was based on vegetation (deduced from pollen and microcharcoal) and hydrological (reconstructed through lake-level) changes. RIASSUNTO: Sadori L. & Giraudi C., Confronto tra variazione di livelli lacustri, dati palinologici e sedimentologi al Lago di Mezzano (VT), Italia centrale. (IT ISSN 0394-3356, 2011) I risultati ottenuti da indagini geomorfologiche condotte nel bacino del Lago di Mezzano sono stati messi a confronto con dati ottenuti da una carota di sedimento campionata al centro del lago. La ricostruzione paleoambientale è stata basata su variazioni vegetazionali, dedotte dal polline e dai micro carboni, e idrologiche, ricostruite tramte le variazioni di livello lacustre.
The Etruscan Domus of the Dolia remained hidden until 2009, when archaeological excavations began... more The Etruscan Domus of the Dolia remained hidden until 2009, when archaeological excavations began in the Etruscan–Roman district of Vetulonia (Southern Tuscany). Based on the classification of the archaeological materials recovered, the destruction of the Domus and the Etruscan city of Vetulonia was traced back to the 1st century BC. The highly various and precious materials recovered inside the Domus revealed the richness of the building and its inhabitants. With this study, we present the anthracological analyses from the Domus of the Dolia. Wood charcoals were recovered from different house rooms, which had different functions based on the archaeological evidence. The tree species employed for the construction of the roof of the building were deciduous and semi-deciduous oak wood (Quercus sect. robur, Quercus sect. cerris) and silver fir wood (Abies cf. alba). Evergreen oak wood (Quercus sect. suber), boxwood (Buxus sempervirens), beech wood (Fagus cf. sylvatica), maple wood (Ace...
Chiarini E. et al., Plio-Quaternary geological evolution of the high Salto river valley (Central ... more Chiarini E. et al., Plio-Quaternary geological evolution of the high Salto river valley (Central Italy): the Marano de' Marsi unit. (IT ISSN 0394-3356, 2009). This paper summarizes the results of multidisciplinary researches carried out in a wide span of time on the earliest continental depo- sits of the high Salto River valley. The study led us to characterize sedimentary environments, to analyze their relationships and to pro- pose a chronological attribution. Facies are referable to a complex depositional system consisting of a Gilbert-type lacustrine delta and of slope-type partly interfingered fan deltas coming from the eastern border of the basin. The geological data collected allowed us to refer the succession to a single sedimentary cycle; in Marano de' Marsi area the paleodrainage and progradation directions were also recognized. To better constrain the chronological, paleoclimatic and paleoenvironmental context, detailed investigations have been conducted on peliti...
The Etruscan Domus of the Dolia remained hidden until 2009, when archaeological excavations began... more The Etruscan Domus of the Dolia remained hidden until 2009, when archaeological excavations began in the Etruscan–Roman district of Vetulonia (Southern Tuscany). Based on the classification of the archaeological materials recovered, the destruction of the Domus and the Etruscan city of Vetulonia was traced back to the 1st century BC. The highly various and precious materials recovered inside the Domus revealed the richness of the building and its inhabitants. With this study, we present the anthracological analyses from the Domus of the Dolia. Wood charcoals were recovered from different house rooms, which had different functions based on the archaeological evidence. The tree species employed for the construction of the roof of the building were deciduous and semi-deciduous oak wood (Quercus sect. robur, Quercus sect. cerris) and silver fir wood (Abies cf. alba). Evergreen oak wood (Quercus sect. suber), boxwood (Buxus sempervirens), beech wood (Fagus cf. sylvatica), maple wood (Ace...
Interdisciplinaria Archaeologica - Natural Sciences in Archaeology
This paper reports the archaeobotanical and archaeozoological data from a disposal pit, whose use... more This paper reports the archaeobotanical and archaeozoological data from a disposal pit, whose use started after the partial closure of a staircase, and from a mortar surface within a former porch in the Santi Quattro Coronati complex in Rome, Italy. The two contexts were in use in the Early Modern Age, when the complex served as a cardinal seat. The element that distinguishes the Santi Quattro Coronati from other contemporaneous contexts is the presence of New World species, until now only hypothesized based on a letter sent by the first resident bishop in Santo Domingo to Lorenzo Pucci, then cardinal with the titulus of the Santi Quattro Coronati. Pumpkin seeds (Cucurbita pepo and C. maxima/ moschata) were found in the pit, while a pelvis of guinea pig (Cavia porcellus) was found in a former porch. Numerous archaeobotanical remains preserved by mummification, identified mostly as food, and many archaeozoological specimens were found in the pit. Based on the data, it is hypothesized that the pit was used mainly as a deposit for table waste. The results as a whole help towards the investigation of the eating customs and daily habits of a Renaissance high-status clerical community.
This paper compares changes in vegetation structure and composition (using synthetic fossil polle... more This paper compares changes in vegetation structure and composition (using synthetic fossil pollen data) with proxy data for population levels (including settlements and radiocarbon dates) over the course of the last 10 millennia in Tyrrhenian central Italy. These data show generalised patterns of clearance of woodland in response both to early agriculturalists and urbanism, as well as the specific adoption of tree crops and variations in stock grazing. The results provide a comprehensive understanding of the development of the anthropogenised landscape of one of the most important early centres of European civilisation, showing regional trends as well as local variations.
This paper reports the archaeobotanical and archaeozoological data from a disposal pit, whose use... more This paper reports the archaeobotanical and archaeozoological data from a disposal pit, whose use started after the partial closure of a staircase, and from a mortar surface within a former porch in the Santi Quattro Coronati complex in Rome, Italy. The two contexts were in use in the Early Modern Age, when the complex served as a cardinal seat. The element that distinguishes the Santi Quattro Coronati from other contemporaneous contexts is the presence of New World species, until now only hypothesized based on a letter sent by the first resident bishop in Santo Domingo to Lorenzo Pucci, then cardinal with the titulus of the Santi Quattro Coronati. Pumpkin seeds (Cucurbita pepo and C. maxima/moschata) were found in the pit, while a pelvis of guinea pig (Cavia porcellus) was found in a former porch. Numerous archaeobotanical remains preserved by mummification, identified mostly as food, and many archaeozoological specimens were found in the pit. Based on the data, it is hypothesized ...
Abstract The top 12 m of a lacustrine sediment sequence from Lago di Mezzano (42°36′N, 11°46′E, 4... more Abstract The top 12 m of a lacustrine sediment sequence from Lago di Mezzano (42°36′N, 11°46′E, 452 a.s.l., Latium, central Italy) have been palynologically investigated. The chronology was established on the basis of radiocarbon dates, measures of annual laminations and volcanic ashes. The continuous sequence provides new fundamental information on the Lateglacial and Holocene, periods often fragmented in Italian pollen records, identifying vegetation dynamics and climate changes occurring in the last 15,300 years. The record starts at the end of the last glacial, closely following the climate changes found at a global scale, with clear stadial and interstadial oscillations, and evidence of cold/dry and wet/warm climatic changes. The Holocene is mostly characterized by forests, evolving rapidly to mature mixed deciduous oak (starting from 11,000 years BP) and, passing through beech forests (starting from ca. 9000 years BP) and alder carrs (starting from ca. 7000 years) to the deeply human-modified present-day landscape. Evaluating the importance of the local and regional human impact is not straightforward. A peculiarity of Lago di Mezzano, as of other Mediterranean lacustrine sites, is that it behaves at times as an “on-site” locale, when human populations were immediately by the lake, and at times as an “off-site” when settlements were found further away. This pattern changed according to cultural and climatic variations, both correlated to the water level of the lake.
Our study aims to reconstruct climate changes that occurred at Lake Ohrid (south-western 15 Balka... more Our study aims to reconstruct climate changes that occurred at Lake Ohrid (south-western 15 Balkan Peninsula), the oldest extant lake in Europe, between 160 and 70 ka (covering part of Marine Isotope Stage-"MIS"-6 and all of MIS 5). A multi-method approach, including the "Modern Analogues Technique" and the "Weighted Averaging Partial Least-Squares Regression", is applied to the high-resolution pollen sequence of the DEEP site, collected from the central part of Lake Ohrid, to provide quantitative estimates of climate and bioclimate parameters. This allows us to document 20 climatic change during the key periods of MIS 6 and MIS 5 in South Europe, a region where accurate climate reconstructions are still lacking for this time interval. Our results for the penultimate glacial show cold and dry conditions, while the onset of the Last Interglacial is characterized by wet and warm conditions, with temperatures higher than today (by ca. 2°C). The Eemian in the Balkans was not a stable phase and a climatic tri-partition, with an initial phase 25 of abrupt warming (128-121 ka), a central phase with decreasing temperatures associated to wet conditions (121-118 ka), followed by a phase of progressive change towards cold and dry conditions (118-112 ka), is evident. After the Eemian, an alternation of four warm/wet periods with cold/dry ones, likely related to the succession of Greenland stadials and cold events known from the North Atlantic, occurred. The 30 observed pattern is also consistent with hydrological and isotopic data from the central Mediterranean. The Lake Ohrid climate reconstruction shows greater similarity with climate patterns inferred from northern European pollen records than with southern European ones, which is probably due to its intermediate position and the mountainous setting. However, this hypothesis needs further testing as very few climate reconstructions are available for southern Europe for this key time period. 35
In the DEEP core from the Lake Ohrid ICDP drilling project, the carbon isotope composition of bul... more In the DEEP core from the Lake Ohrid ICDP drilling project, the carbon isotope composition of bulk organic matter (δ 13 CTOC) over the last 516 ka shows a negative correlation with total 2 organic carbon (TOC) and total inorganic carbon (TIC). This relationship is marked by periods of lower δ 13 CTOC values corresponding to higher TIC and TOC. Along with TOC/TN, the correlation between δ 13 CTOC and δ 13 CTIC suggests that most of the organic matter in the core is from aquatic primary production within the lake. The combination of TOC, TIC, and δ 13 CTOC is able to disentangle long-term glacial/interglacial cycles and, to a lesser extent, millennial scale climate variability. Over the longer term, δ 13 CTOC shows modest variability, indicating that the δ 13 C of the dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) pool is stabilised by the supply of karst spring water characterised by δ 13 CDIC influenced by the bedrock δ 13 C value, and the long residence time of the lake water and well mixed upper water column promoting equilibration with atmospheric CO2. However, comparison between arboreal pollen (AP%), TIC and TOC data indicates that the δ 13 CTOC signal is modulated by the leaching of soil CO2 through runoff and spring discharge, changes in primary productivity, and recycling of organic matter within the lake, all affecting δ 13 CDIC. Exceptionally low δ 13 CTOC during some interglacial periods (e.g. MIS7 and MIS9) possibly indicate rapid intensification of organic matter recycling and/or increasing stratification and enhanced methanogenesis, even if the latter process is not supported by the sedimentological data.
In this study, we present lipid biomarker and palynological data for a sediment core from Lake Do... more In this study, we present lipid biomarker and palynological data for a sediment core from Lake Dojran (Macedonia/Greece), which covers the entire Holocene period. We analyzed vascular plant-derived n-alkanes, combustion-derived polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), fecal steroids, and bacterial and archaeal glycerol dialkyl glycerol tetraether (GDGT) lipids in concert with microcharcoal and pollen assemblages to reconstruct climatic, environmental, and human impact in the Dojran catchment and the greater Dojran area. Overall, our results suggest a relationship between anthropogenic activity and environmental/climatic change since increased human impact corresponds to phases of higher humidity and high lake levels at Lake Dojran. During the early Holocene, the record reveals increasing temperatures and humidity and concurrent increasing vegetation cover and runoff/soil erosion, respectively. Following a thermal maximum during the middle early Holocene, temperatures decrease gradua...
Climate evolution of the Mediterranean region during the Holocene exhibits strong spatial and tem... more Climate evolution of the Mediterranean region during the Holocene exhibits strong spatial and temporal variability. The spatial differentiation and temporal variability, as evident from different climate proxy datasets, has remained notoriously difficult for models to reproduce. In light of this complexity, we examine the previously described evidence for (i) opposing northern and southern precipitation regimes during the Holocene across the Mediterranean basin, and (ii) an east-to-west precipitation gradient or dipole during the early Holocene, from a wet eastern Mediterranean to dry western Mediterranean. Using quantitative climate information from marine and terrestrial pollen archives, we focus on two key time intervals, the early to mid-Holocene (8000 to 6000 cal yrs BP) and the late Holocene (4000 to 2000 yrs BP), in order to test the above mentioned hypotheses on a Mediterranean-wide scale. Palynologically derived climate information is comp...
Humans and environmental sustainability: Lessons from the past ecosystems of Europe and Northern Africa. CEA2018 Abstracts book. Modena, Italy., 2018
Archaeobotanical analyses carried out in a Renaissance pit of a tower in the Santi Quattro Corona... more Archaeobotanical analyses carried out in a Renaissance pit of a tower in the Santi Quattro Coronati complex (Rome) are presented. The carpological materials, preserved by mummification through desiccation, are roughly dated between the 16th and 17th centuries, with prevalence for the former. Approximately 6,000 well-preserved fragments of seeds and fruits, belonging to 35 taxa, mostly identified at species level and ascribed to 18 different plant families were identified in sediments retrieved in two stratigraphic units. Pastinaca sativa L. (parsnip), Juglans regia L. (walnut) and Vitis vinifera L. (grape) prevail. Many edible cultivated species were found, along with one ornamental species and two wild species. New World species represent the most peculiar findings, representing one of the earliest attestations of such type in Europe, shortly after the America discovery. The plant assemblage gives an overview on plant use during the Renaissance in a high-level residence of Rome.
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Papers by Laura Sadori