Laboratorio di Palinologia e Paleobotanica
www.palinopaleobot.unimore.it
Dipartimento Scienze della Vita - Università di Modena e Reggio Emilia
The city of Modena (Emilia Romagna, Northern Italy). Seeds and fruits, pollen and non pollen
palynomorphs from layers dated to Roman period
Torri P. *, Bosi G. *, Montecchi M.C. *, Rinaldi R. *, Bandini Mazzanti M. *
*Laboratorio di Palinologia e Paleobotanica - Dipartimento Scienze della Vita - Università di Modena e Reggio Emilia
Emilia Romagna
Fossato VG/VP, modello digitale
roman street
circular tank
Archaeobotanical analyses have been carried out on the site “Novi Ark” in the city of Modena. The excavation has also
brought to light a necropolis, rural buildings, tanks and production facilities, and three large waste dumps containing
amphorae and other archaeological materials. Pollen, NPPs, seeds/fruits were collected from archaeological layers dated
between the 5th-4th BC and 2nd AD.
Below are reported the main features of samples significant for NPPs analyses, grouped
by chronological phases.
5th-4th BC soil – The archaeobotanical analyses show an open oak-dominated wood. The
good value of riparian trees (alders and willows) with sedges, Nuphar and Thalictrum
flavum type suggests proximity to wetlands. A high concentration of large size
microcharcoals might suggest anthropogenic fire, that could have caused the formation of
large clearings colonized by bracken fern (11.5%), which responds readily to the fire,
thanks to the rootstock resistant to high temperature (1).
4
5
3
6
1
1st
2
BC-2nd
AD circular tank - The analyses show that the large circular tank was
surrounded by a hedge of boxwoods, testified by a good percentage of pollen and seeds.
The presence of Ceratophyllum spines in the pollen samples, many achenes of
Ceratophyllum sp.pl., some achenes of Myriophyllum spicatum suggests a situation
suitable for the fish farm. In fact, hornwort and water-milfoil are optimal to provide
Fossato
digitaleis supported by the occurrence of fish remains
support to VG/VP,
the eggs ofmodello
fish. This hypothesis
(2). The occurrence of Tribonema type and hydrophytes as Cerathophyllum sp.pl.,
Myryophyllum spicatum, Ranunculus subgen. Batrachium, Lemna minor/gibba indicates
stagnant or slowly flowing waters, from meso- to eutrophic, nutrient-rich (3;4). Near the
tank there were grasslands, probably used for grazing, as suggested by the dominance of
Poaceae, Cichorieae, Dicrocoelium eggs and dung fungal spores.
7A
1st AD deposit of basin – The prevalence of Poaceae accompanied by Cichorieae,
Centaurea nigra type, Trifolium, Medicago, and dung fungal spores testifies the presence
of grassland that could be grazed. The high values of pollen and seeds of Lemna indicate
the presence of still waters. This is also supported by the finding of spermatophores of
copepods.
On the whole archaeobotanical analyses highlighted the presence of various
environments, such as woods, wetlands and grazed grassland.
8A
7B
9
10 A
11 A
10 B
11 B
1 – Cerathophyllum demersum (achene), 2 – Cerathophyllum (leaf spinule); 3 – Trichuris (egg); 4 – Rivularia type
(heterocyst); 5 – Spermatophore of Copepod; 6 – Tribonema type (algal filament); 7 – Pastinaca sativa (A – pollen, B
– mericarp); 8 – Buxus sempervirens (A – pollen, B – seed); 9 – Lagenaria siceraria (seed); 8 - Salix sp. (A – capsule,
B – pollen); 11 – Vitis vinifera (A – pip, B – pollen). Bars near seeds/fruits are 1 mm.
NPP
A
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(l e
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5
NOVI SAD - percentuage pollen diagram
of selected taxa
t re
8B
1st cent. AD
deposit
of basin
1 st AD
1st cent. AD
depth
1st-2nd cent. AD
circular
tank
1st BC - 2 nd1stAD
cent.BC
Fossato VG/VP, modello digitale
1st cent.BC
soil
4th-5 th cent. BC
5th - 4 th BC
20
40
60
80 100
20
20
20
20
20
40
20
40
20
20
20
20
20
20
2000 4000 6000
References
(1) CRANE M.F., 1990. Pteridium aquilinum, in Fire Effects Information System [online], U.S. Dep. of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory (producer), available: http://www.feis-crs.org/beta/ (2014,
April 29)
(2) ANSALONI I. et al. in press. Tracce di “frequentatori” della vasca, in Malnati L. (Ed.) Archeologia a Novi Park. Ricerche interdisciplinari di archeologia urbana nel suburbio di Modena romana e medievale (IX sec. a.C. - XVII sec. d.C.). All’Insegna
del Giglio, Firenze.
(3) CANTER-LUND H., LUND J.W.G., 1995. Freshwater Algae, Bristol
(4) LONGHI D. et al. 2007. Vulnerabilità di un ecosistema umido relitto rispetto a carichi inquinanti: evidenze da un'indagine pluriennale, in Studi Trent. Sci. Nat. Acta Biol. 83, 57-62