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Archaeobotanical research of Roman harbour under the Flacius street in Pula (Istria, Croatia)

A total of 27 samples, collected from the part of excavated Roman port in Flaciusova street in Pula, was archaeobotanicaly researched and 9809 plant macrofossils were isolated and analysed. The most numerous are the remains of figs (Ficus carica), pines (Pinus pinea), grape- vines (Vitis vinifera), blackberries (Rubus fruticosus agg.) and olives (Olea sativa). All these taxa are widespread in the Mediterranean area and represent gladly consumed food for local population. The number of found ruderal and weed species is relatively high (34), but as they came to the site accidentally, the number of those macrofossils is far smaller than the number of (cultivated and wild) useful species. Elements of evergreen forest vegetation and plants of aquatic habitats at the site was low (2+1), but their findings still confirm the existence of this type of vegetation in the area of the site in ancient times. Only for the species Cordia myxa it is assumed that it came to the port by international import from Africa. Our conclusion about import of that species is based on the fact that Cordia myxa is not native for Croatian Adriatic coast and the fruitstone was found in the same stratigraphic unit as some African amforae. For other useful plant species it can be assumed that they could have been cultivated near the site and that they arrived to the port as the food for the local population (and/or sailors) or even as an export product, which from Pula could have been transported to other areas.

plant macrofossils; cultivated plants; Cordia myxa; amphorae; Roman period; Pula; Croatia

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