Naslov
Roman plant remains from Veli Brijun (island of Brioni), Croatia

Autori
Šoštarić, Renata ; Kuester Hansjoerg

Izvornik
Vegetation History and Archaeobotany (0939-6314) 10 (2001); 227-233

Vrsta, podvrsta i kategorija rada
Radovi u časopisima, članak, znanstveni

Ključne riječi
Mediterranean vegetation; Cultivated plants; Roman period; Veli Brijun island; Croatia

Sažetak
Forty one samples from the seabed of Verige Bay (Veli Brijun island, Croatia), the archaeological locality of a Roman villa, which was settled from the first to the fifth century AD, were analysed. From the analysis of plant macro-fossils it is evident that the eu-Mediterranean vegetation, today described as a Quercion ilicis in the phytosociological system, already existed in Roman time. During this period it degraded to other vegetation types such as the maquis, garigues, and pastures by human activities. Most frequently recorded are plant remains of grapevine (Vitis vinifera), olive (Olea europaea), fig (Ficus carica), and stone pine (Pinus pinea) ; they all derive from very important and characteristic Mediterranean foods. The sweet cherry (Prunus avium) and the peach (P. persica), some vegetables and spicy plants were probably cultivated, too, as well as some cereals, most probably millet (Panicum miliaceum). Walnut (Juglans regia), sweet chestnut (Castanea sativa), and hazel (Corylus avellana) were possibly cultivated on the island or imported from neighbouring Istria. The records of some fresh water plants show that there was a lot of fresh water in Verige Bay and its surroundings in Roman times, much more than today.

Izvorni jezik
Engleski

Znanstvena područja
Biologija

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