Palaeovegetational reconstruction based on pollen and seeds/fruits from a Bronze Age archaeological site in Tuscany (Italy)

Abstract

A reconstruction of the vegetation surrounding the Bronze Age archaeological site of San Lorenzo a Greve (Florence) based on pollen and seed/fruit records is presented. Pollen analysis suggests the presence of prevailingly open and damp landscapes, typically occurring on alluvial soils. Patches of woodland, mostly formed by deciduous Quercus, Ulmus, Salix, were alternated to the grasslands. Vitis also probably grew in these damp thickets together with Alnus and Hedera. The forests on the hilly slopes included deciduous Quercus, Carpinus betulus, Corylus, Cornus mas, and Sambucus nigra. Where the soil was well drained, Ostrya carpinifolia and Mediterranean evergreen elements such as Q. ilex and Viburnum tinus grew. In the landscape scenario reconstructed by pollen analysis, seeds/fruits indicated the presence of specific plants which produce a low amount of pollen: they are seldom recorded in pollen spectra but their fruits were commonly gathered in prehistory.

Keywords:

• Palaeovegetation
• palynology
• carpology
• archaeobotany
• Florence

Acknowledgements

The authors wish to thank Dr B. Aranguren and Dr P. Perazzi, Soprintendenza per i Beni Archeologici della Toscana. Part of this study was presented at the Symposium “Reconstruction of past cultural landscapes and human-related environmental changes using palynological and archeobotanical records” by Dr A.M. Mercuri and Dr L. Sadori in the occasion of the 12th International Palynological Congress and 8th International Organization of Palaeobotany Conference – Bonn, August 30–September 5, 2008.