Papers by Maria Chiara Montecchi
L’ambiente vegetale a Mutina dal periodo repubblicano al tardo romano
Indagini archeopalinologiche in Sicilia promosse dal CRPR di Palermo
Nel lavoro sono illustrate le analisi archeobotaniche del sito di Taormina, e del sito di Mozi
“Polline all’Orto Botanico”: un progetto scientifico/didattico/museale all’Orto di Modena – Università di Modena e Reggio Emilia
All'Orto Botanico di Modena, dove un Laboratorio di Palinologia multisettorale opera da più d... more All'Orto Botanico di Modena, dove un Laboratorio di Palinologia multisettorale opera da più di 25 anni, l'idea di avvalersi dell' Orto per far familiarizzare con la biodiversità e informatività del polline ha radici lunghe (CAA e DD, in litteris). Iniziative spot sono state attuate, ma solo di recente è stato avviato un progetto organico. E' un progetto sfaccettato, sia nel contenuto, articolato su alcune linee della Palinologia, sia nello scopo: dare struttura a una sequenza operativa autarchica, di Orto Universitario: “dalla produzione al consumo”, cioè “trasformazione di prodotti originali di ricerca in prodotti museali di collezionismo scientifico e di didattica-divulgazione a tutti i livelli di scolarità- cittadinanza”.E’ qui presentato il progetto, nelle varie linee, e lo stato del lavoro. Ricerca-Collezioni: 1–Morfo-palinologia – è iniziata la redazione della “Flora Pollinica dell’Orto” con le schede di alcune Conifere e con i metodi della “Flora Palinologica Italiana”, semplificati. In parallelo procede la Palinoteca dell’Orto, con un protocollo di materiali indoor (polline essiccato, vetrini con polline “fresco” e acetolizzato, foto al MO e SEM, polvere pollinica, modellini 3D – diam. max a 2000x (EB) e outdoor (gigantografie = dischi rotondi-diam.40 cm appesi agli alberi, con polline (diam. max a 3000-15000x, colorato su fondo nero, ideati da CAA, DD e PT). 2–Brio-palinologia - su ca 60 campioni di muschio prelevati nell’Orto abbiamo dati preliminari da 20. Scopo: documentare l’immagine pollinica che l’Orto sta consegnando agli archivi vegetazionali e che sarà utile ad es. per stimare la produttività pollinica delle piante in Orto in relazione con acclimatazione e governo di esse, e per interpretare spettri pollinici di Orti e Giardini storici attuali e passati. 3–Aero-palinologia - è pianificata l’apertura della “Stazione di Monitoraggio aerobiologico Orto Botanico” che verrà inaugurata nel 2008, in occasione del 250° compleanno dell’Orto (uno spore trap Lanzoni VPPS 2000 è disponibile; l’Aeropalinoteca dell’Orto arricchirà quella esistente - Il laboratorio gestisce la Stazione di Vignola da più di 15 anni). Scopo: valutare entità e biodiversità del contenuto pollinico in aria, con attenzione primaria alla componente allergenica, per conoscere l “allergenicità dell’Orto” e fornire calendari/orologi pollinici ai visitatori pollinosici. 4–Paleo/Archeo-palinologia - durante scavi 2007 per il posizionamento di cavi elettrici, sono stati prelevati campioni pollinici in sequenza fino a ca 60 cm di profondità in prossimità dell’Ingresso dell’Orto. Lo studio è in corso. Scopo: ottenere informazioni sulle storia dell’Orto, allestire la collezione inerente, esporre il diagramma pollinico commentato e affiancare Gigantografie Paleo/Archeopolliniche a quelle Attuali. Didattica-Divulgazione - il progetto ha incentivato e strutturato attività gia in atto, le più recenti sono: 1)”Spore traps, macchine che inspirano la natura (Sett.Cultura Scientifica, Marzo 2007); 2) “Il gioco del polline” (Il Gusto di sentire le Scienze “Oggi all’Orto: pollini da vedere e toccare”, XVIII Esposizione De’ Fiori, Maggio 2007); 3) I pollini fanno l’occhiolino agli artisti (Pollini tra Scienza e Arte - XVIII Esposizione De’ Fiori, Maggio 2007)
Archaopalynological investigations in Sicily (at Taormina, Piazza Armerina and Mozia)
The abstract refers on archaeopalynological researches carried out in Sicily thank to a collabora... more The abstract refers on archaeopalynological researches carried out in Sicily thank to a collaboration between the CRPR and the Palynological Laboratory of Modena and Reggio Emilia University. Three sites were studied for pollen (the Ancient Theatre of Taormina, the submerged road of Mozia and the Medieval settlement of Piazza Armerina). The main features of the Natural and cultural vegetal landscape revealed by pollen so far are described
Analisi archeobotaniche della vasca circolare
Le analisi integrate di varie tipologie di reperti hanno fornito interessanti informazioni sia di... more Le analisi integrate di varie tipologie di reperti hanno fornito interessanti informazioni sia di carattere paletno- botanico, sia per la ricostruzione dell\u2019ambiente vegetale del contesto
Indagini archeologiche sull\u2019antico giardino dei semplici della Spezieria dell\u2019Ospedale Maggiore di Milano
Archive documents record that the pharmacy was working since the beginning of hospital activity. ... more Archive documents record that the pharmacy was working since the beginning of hospital activity. In 1641 a garden to grow medical herbs was laid, and 18th and 19th century maps show the layout of the area. During these years a vast quantity of maiolica containers were purchased, and lists were compiled of the plants and relative treatments. In the first half of the 19th century domestic production was abandoned and the area became an ornamental garden. While aware that post-war reconstruction may have affected the area, was taken the decision to make a study of the garden in order to verify the cartographic and documentary evidence, as well as to search for traces of the original plants. This survey is a preliminary part of the project for the restoration of the garden, called \uabgiardino dei semplici\ubb
The Pollen Reference Collection of LPP \u2013 UNIMORE
The Pollen Reference Collection of the Laboratory of Palynology and Palaeobotany (LPP) of the Uni... more The Pollen Reference Collection of the Laboratory of Palynology and Palaeobotany (LPP) of the University of Modena and Reggio Emilia is titled to Daria Bertolani Marchetti who carried out to Modena the first slides in 1989. The Reference Collection is organized in the following sections: 1) Envelopes, with pollen from plant material collected in the field or from herbarium sheets, are 3098, and refer to about 1100 different species. 2) Microtubes, contain acetolysed pollen preserved in glycerol jelly, and are about 1440. 3) Slides are mounted with acetolysed and fresh pollen. Therefore, the pollen collection can be used for paleopalynology and actuopalynology. The slides, put into boxes slide rack, are classified according to the morphological criterion (NPC = Number - Position - Character of the apertures - Erdtman, 1969). Their number is about 2000. In the Reference Collection there are three sections: Reference Collection, containing the reference material, described above; Resea...
Indagini archeologiche sull’antico giardino dei semplici della Spezieria dell’Ospedale Maggiore di Milano
The palaeoenvironmental reconstruction of the Bronze Age settlements of the Po Plain (SUCCESSO-TERRA Project)
The contribution shows the palynological research carried out on the three archaeological sites -... more The contribution shows the palynological research carried out on the three archaeological sites - Noceto, Santa Rosa di Poviglio and Valestra - at the centre of the project SUCCESSO-TERRA. In this research, the environmental and land-use changes have been investigated to understand their relationships over the last millennia
Palaeoenvironment, land-use and palaeoethnobotany from archaeobotany research in Italy
International audienc
The LPP of Modena and Archeobotany: research in Italy over the last twenty years
The study of pollen, NPPs, seeds and fruits, wood and charcoal from archaeological contexts is es... more The study of pollen, NPPs, seeds and fruits, wood and charcoal from archaeological contexts is essential to investigate the history of man and the environmental changes connected to the anthropic pressure in a territory. The archaeobotanical record is highly influenced by human activity; this feature has to be considered in order to correctly interpret the data, and also it is valuable to obtain detailed informations on relationship between humans and plants from prehistoric to recent times. Over the last twenty years, archaeobotanical materials from about eighty Italian sites have been studied by our Laboratory; the investigation has focused on regions of Northern (especially Emilia Romagna), Central (mainly Tuscany) and Southern (mainly Basilicata and Sicily) Italy. The sites range in dates from the Bronze Age, Roman Period, Middle Ages, Renaissance, up to the modern age. These investigations have become more multidisciplinary using the paleo-ecological and ethnobotanical approaches. The data have been interpreted as a possible source of information for the understanding of the biodiversity of the past, even for purposes of conservation. A new field is represented by the analysis of ancient DNA (aDNA), which can be a source of new and interesting information, especially on crops
Pollen and macroremains from the site “Vasca di Noceto”: an artificial basin for votive practices during the Bronze Age in Northern Italy
The environmental perspective from the Late Antique contexts of Villa del Casale and Philosophiana (central Sicily, S Italy)
Villa del Casale and Philosophiana are archaeological sites very close from each other and locate... more Villa del Casale and Philosophiana are archaeological sites very close from each other and located in Sicily, southern Italy. They are among the best evidence of rural contexts of the Roman period in the island (Vaccaro 2013). These sites have been recently studied with focus to the end of 3rd until the 7th century AD, a time frame that was critical for the transition of different cultures. Archaeological researches, in fact, attest that human activity has strongly interested central Sicily since the beginning of the Roman Imperial Age, and has reached its acme in the Byzantine period. Based on interdisciplinary projects, the on-site palynological analyses allowed to obtain the reconstruction of the agrarian and cultural landscape of this area in the centre of the Mediterranean basin during Late Antiquity. This poster presents the data which were recently published by Mercuri et al. (2017 online). ... Pollen and archaeological information confirm that this central Sicily area had the role of major producer of cereal foodstuffs. Our data support the idea of continuity of the agrarian landscape during the Late Antiquity. In fact, spreading of anthropogenic environments, where tree crops and cereals were cultivated, probably in alternation with pasturelands, marked the land use of this area. In addition and more specifically, ornamental and shade plants were concentrated in the luxury villa, while fruit trees and agrarian activities were more evident in Philosophiana. We assume that the centuries from the 3rd to 7th century AD represent a key phase to understand changes in the past vegetation to the modern landscape of this island (Mercuri et al. 2017 online)
The aim of this work is to describe the paleoenvironment and cultural landscape near the archaeol... more The aim of this work is to describe the paleoenvironment and cultural landscape near the archaeological site of “Vasca Inferiore di Noceto” (an artificial basin) in about one century during the Bronze Age (1420-1320 BC). The study of the ecological-floristic characters revealed by pollen analysis (pollen, spore of Monilophytes s.l. and Briophytes s.l. and nonpollen palynomorphs–NPPs) allowed to distinguish the past biodiversity and ecological successions that are typical of natural or human-induced wet environments. This research provides new biological information to an archaeological context, discovered in 2004, through a detailed analysis of plant cover near the site. The low forest cover and signs of human activity (with evidence from Corylus, cereals and synanthropic plants) are at the base of pollen spectra. Data permit to investigate the complex relationships between this basin and human activity, and the human impact on landscape. Keywords—pollen, NPPs, landscape reconstruct...
Pollen, NPPs, seeds/fruits, charcoals for reconstructing environmental and cultural changes between 3rd BC and 6th AD in Mutina (Modena)
Archaeobotanical researches (pollen, non-pollen palynomorphs, seeds/fruits and charcoals) carried... more Archaeobotanical researches (pollen, non-pollen palynomorphs, seeds/fruits and charcoals) carried out on the sites of Modena provided many information useful to reconstruct the environment, farming practices, diet and ritual uses associated to plants in Roman period. The research is a key example of integrated archaeobotanical analyses based on archeological sites studied for palaeoenvironmental reconstruction
The potential of Botanical Gardens to show pollen biodiversity - The Project in Modena: 1. The Pollen Flora THE POLLEN FLORA OFTHE GARDEN
Botanical Gardens, being Museums made of living plants andlaboratories, are the main places where... more Botanical Gardens, being Museums made of living plants andlaboratories, are the main places where plant biodiversity in its manyforms can be managed and shown. Pollen grains offer an attractivedisplay of biodiversity due to their microscopic size, huge number,great morphological variety consistent with their systematic /phylogenetic position and almost ubiquitous spread in space and time.In the Botanical Garden of Modena University, where palynologistshave been working for more then twenty-five years, a multifacetedproject has been set up to acquaint citizens with pollen biodiversity,by exploiting the know-how of the local laboratory in several fields ofPalynology (e.g. Aero-, Archaeo-, Bryo-, Geo-, Melitto-, Morpho-,Pharmaco-11/02/09 15.53 Page 1 of 2Breve descrizione dei contenuti (Abstract) Palynology).This paper concerns Morphopalynology and more precisely the"Pollen Flora of the Garden", i.e. the study and exhibition ofmorphological characters of pollen of the plants growing in it. Thefollowing work has been undertaken so far: 1) The setting up of theGarden Pollen type Collection, following the rules recently adoptedfor the educational section of the local Collection; 2) Morphologicalanalyses and descriptions of pollen types of the Garden, following themethods of the Italian Pollen Flora, starting with woody species,especially Conifers; 3) Preparation of pollen protocols and materialsfor educational events.To show what we have done so far, we report: 1) the status of theGarden Pollen Collection (number and list of pollen species collected,stored dried, acetolyzed, mounted in slides, and species that can beswapped); 2) the status of the Garden Pollen Flora (list of the pollenspecies described); 3) examples of the pollen educational processwhich have been in part already successfully employed and in partplanned to be used during exhibitions for citizens, students fromprimary to secondary school and tourists (pollen dust jars, 3D pollenmodels, big and small round panels with high magnification pollenphotos hung from trees, pollen trips throughout the Garden, frommicroscope to plant
The city of Modena (Emilia Romagna, Northern Italy). Seeds and fruits, pollen and non pollen palynomorphs from layers dated to Roman period
Archaeobotanical analyses have been carried out on the site \u201cNovi Ark\u201d in the city of M... more Archaeobotanical analyses have been carried out on the site \u201cNovi Ark\u201d in the city of Modena. The excavation has also brought to light a necropolis, rural buildings, tanks and production facilities. 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 \u2013 The 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, which responds readily to the fire, thanks to the rootstock resistant to high temperature. 1st BC-2nd AD circular tank - The 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. Hornwort and water-milfoil are optimal to provide support to the eggs of fish. This hypothesis is supported by the occurrence of fish remains. The occurrence of algae of genus 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. Near the tank there were grasslands, probably used for grazing, as suggested by the dominance of Poaceae, Cichorieae, Dicrocoelium eggs and dung fungal spores. 1st AD deposit of basin \u2013 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
The agro-sylvo-pastoral system of 3600-3200 years ago (Terramare, Po Plain; SUCCESSO-TERRA project)
An interdisciplinary geoarchaeological and archaeobotanical (pollen and macroremains) investigati... more An interdisciplinary geoarchaeological and archaeobotanical (pollen and macroremains) investigation is carried out in the framework of the national-funded project SUCCESSO-TERRA (Human societies, climate, environment changes and resource exploitation/sustainability in the Po Plain at the Mid-Holocene times: the Terramara; PRIN-20158KBLNB). The research is providing significant data on the land transformations that occurred at the onset, duration, and end of the Terramare culture in the southern-central Po Plain (Emilia Romagna region). The Terramare are archaeological remains of banked and moated villages, located in the central alluvial plain of the Po River and dated to Middle/Recent Bronze ages (3600-3200 yr. BP). Pedosedimentary features and biological records from Terramare sites help to shed light on the relationships between Late Holocene regional environmental vicissitudes and land use changes, and allow a detailed comprehension of adaptive strategies of the Terramare people (1). Pollen samples were collected from trenches excavated within the main structures of the archaeological sites (namely Santa Rosa di Poviglio and Vasca Grande di Noceto sites). The pollen spectra resulted from both human presence/action and natural vegetation cover in the area. A set of anthropogenic pollen indicators, also common in the spectra from other Italian archaeological sites (2), was considered especially useful to reconstruct the agro-sylvo-pastoral system besides the distribution of wetland plant associations. The palynological research showed a transformation in flora composition and plant communities, suggesting a complex and dynamic agricultural economy based on wood management, fruit collection on the wild, and crop fields. At the top of the sequence of Santa Rosa di Poviglio, in correspondence with a global, dry climatic episode, a dramatic decrease of fields and woods is recorded. Along with aridity, an intensive landuse might have played a fairly synchronous action on vegetation. Data suggest a scenario of an impoverished plant landscape at the end of the life of the Poviglio Santa Rosa village, and connected with the collapse of the Terramare culture
Palynology from Mediterranean archaeological sites for cultural landscape reconstruction
Palynology is probably the best biological approach to investigate relationships between humans a... more Palynology is probably the best biological approach to investigate relationships between humans and the environment in the past. The genesis and evolution of cultural landscapes of the Mediterranean sites is more and more explored by palaeoecologists and archaeobotanists with analyses of on-site and off-site contexts that invariably contain signs of human presence and activities carried out during millennia of civilizations. The presentation will report in particular on pollen analyses from archaeological sites located in southern Italy. The case studies are selected among interdisciplinary research analyses, with examples of sites from Basilicata (e.g. Pantanello, from the 7th BC) and Sicily (e.g. San Vincenzo di Stromboli, Bronze Age)
Tanella cave(Monte Baldo - Verona): environmental data from the last glacial, based onhydrogeology, stratigraphy, pollen and microcharcoals
Since 2003, an extensive hydrogeological investigation has been carried out on Monte Baldo by res... more Since 2003, an extensive hydrogeological investigation has been carried out on Monte Baldo by researchers of the Civic Natural History Museum of Verona, in order to make the census of springs occurring along the west side of the mountain and to evaluate the quality of their water. The investigation included morphological and hydrogeological observations concerning the Tanella Cave and interdisciplinary investigations performed on the deposits found into the Cave. The present paper presents the first data concerning the hydrogeology of the Cave as well as data on stratigraphy, pollen and micro-charcoals obtained from the analyses of a well preserved sequence located at ca. 80 m from the entrance (sequence A). Aim of the study was to reconstruct the environment of the area around the Cave along the time span testified by the sequence.The sequence is 60 cm thick and was built up by fluvioglacial sediments followed by lacustrine sediments. Five samples taken along the sequence plus three recent control samples (mosses), collected in places assumed as origins of the pollen input, were studied for pollen and micro-charcoals. Pollen preservation was good and concentration varied from 101 to 103 p/g. Pollen spectra from the Cave showed the evolution from a landscape of alpine grassland above the timberline, likely of glacial age, to a Holocene more forested landscape similar in flora to the current one testified by the control samples. Pollen probably arrived in the Cave by air, water and animals. Micro-charcoals suggested that fires were sometimes lit into the Cave