Landscape and vegetation change on the Iberian Peninsula during the Roman Epoch
– A reconstruction based on Geo
-Bioarchives
Geo-Bioarchives
Schneider, H.1,2, Höfer, D.1, Meschner, S.1, Trog, C.1, Teichner, F.3 ,Cardoso, J.L.4 & Vis, G.-J.5
1 Department of Geography, University of Jena, Germany; 2 Department of Geography, University of Marburg, Germany
3 Department of Archeological Science, University of Frankfurt/Main, Germany; 4 Department of Archeological Science, University Lisbon, Portugal
5 Department of climate change and landscape dynamics, Free University Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Contact: [email protected]
Introduction
Aims
Study Area
Archaeological investigations expect that first strong landscape changes on the Iberian Peninsula based on roman
occupation (Schattner 1998, Blech et al 2001, Teichner 2007). Actual sedimentological investigations
The aim of this presented project is to reconstruct the influence
in flood plains, lagoons and estuaries do not reflect this development. They often show
of the roman land use system on vegetation, landscape structure, processes
a decrease in sedimentation during this period (Thorndycraft &
and development.
Benito 2006 a/b). In contrast analyses on sediments from
Very different sites in middle and south
Therefore different Geo-Bioarchives on several sites of Portugal and Spain –
roman dams (Hinderer et al. 2004, Solanas 2005)
Portugal were chosen for the investigations.
estuaries, palaeoriver channels and roman dams - are actually investigated with a high
document massive erosion
The sites are labeled with 1 - Tagus floodplain near Santarem,
temporal resolution using palynological and sedimentological methods. This poster focuses on
processes.
2 - Roman dam in Pisões (Beja), 3 - estuary of the Ribeira de Quarteira
the results of the Portuguese sites.
1
2
3
Results
1- Floodplain
of the Tagus river
near Santarem
Depth a.m.s.l. in cm
184.5
PiRo4
182.5
Depth a.m.s.l. in cm
PiRo3
PiRo8
181.5
PiRo2
PiRo9
PiRo1
180.5
183.5
Area of the Roman dam
and Villa of Pisões
182.5
181.5 PiRo10 PiRo2
180.5
179.5
179.5
PiRo7
Fig. 3.1:
Cerro da Vila
– the Roman Villa
on the margin of
the estuarine area
PiRo12
PiRo11
PiRo13
178.5
178.5
3- Estuary
of the Ribeira
de Quarteira
2- Roman dam of Pisões
Pisões
dam wall
Fig. 2.1: Picture of the area in front of the dam
177.5
Core GJP
Paul de Boquilobo
W Distance in m
177.5
E
0
20
40
60
Clay/Silt
silty Sand
Layers of Silt and Sand
sandy Clay/Silt
Sand
mottled Clay/Silt
176.5
N
broken Stones
Distance in m
S
0
20
30
40
Water store capacity
~ 131300 m³
Fig. 2.2: Sedimentological results on the dam area in Pisões; a) Transversal profile; b) Longitudinal
profile with the reconstructed height of the dam wall according to the situation and position of
the ancient mill.
0
ue
1610±90 cal. BP
1785±85 cal. BP
ar
sh
m
h
up
pe
m r
ar
sh
hig
ar
ia
n
aq
ua
t
re ics
ed
local
vegetation
shell / snail
gravel
charcoal /
organic material
250
400
clay / silt
1885±75 cal. BP
420
sand
300
300
1955±85 cal. BP
440
20 40 60 80 100
20
40
60
20
40
60
20
40
60
20
40
20
40
200 400 600 800
300
600
200 400 600 800
reddish brown
2020±100 cal. BP
1790±90 cal. BP
20 40 60 80 100
460
calcareous
Gyttja
ru
de
ra
l
Depth in cm
380
200
regional
vegetation
rip
do
ea
m
ed
re
w
et
l
s
tic
de
ra
ua
aq
ld
ru
Fig. 2.3: Digital landscape model of the dam area and the
reservoir volume during roman time
1295±35 cal. BP
tr
mees
a
he cc
ce rbshie
re
&
a
ga
tre ls
rig
es
ue
m
ac
ga chie
rig &
u
gr e
as
sla
nd
fie
ld
w
s
rig
ga
&
an
d
ie
ch
as
sl
150
200
360
Depth in cm
100
925±135 cal. BP
340
humic
Clay/Silt
peat
fie
320
gr
m
w
et
at
pe
ed
re
aq
100
m
ac
do
ea
s
ain
tic
ua
l
pl
od
de
ra
ru
flo
ld
fie
as
sl
gr
tre
m es
ac
he ch
ce rbsie &
re
ga
rig
treals
ue
es
w
s
es
fo
r
ga
&
an
d
ie
ch
m
ac
300
local vegetation
regional vegetation
t
ue
local vegetation
rig
tre
m es
a
he cc
h
cerbs ie &
r
ga
tre eal
rig
es s
u
e
regional vegetation
Cerro da Vila
Core P01-5 VM 5
PiRo2
480
500
Fig. 2.4: Sedimentology and palynological results of Core PiRo 15 (2)
2395±65 cal. BP
20 40 60 80 100
20
40
60
20
40
60
20
40
60
20
20
20
40
60
20 40 60 80 100
1000 2000 3000
20
500
1000
40
60
20
40
60
10
20
30
10
20
30
10
20
30
20
40
60
20
200 400 600 800
200 400 600 800
200 400 600 800
2600±140 cal. BP
gray
grayish yellow
brown
350
400
Fig. 1.1: Sedimentology (Vis et al. 2009)
and palynological results of the ounger
Holocene in Paul des Boquilobo
20
400
Fig. 3.2: Sedimentology (Schneider et al. 2009) and palynological results of
younger Holocene in the Estuary of the Ribeira de Quarteira
Conclusions
Interpretation of the Results
rig
ue
local vegetation
sh
pe
up
h
hig
ed
rm
m
ar
s
re
aq
ru
rip
ar
ua
ia
tic
n
l
de
ra
ld
fie
gr
ar
s
h
ga
&
an
d
ie
as
sl
ch
m
w
et
ed
re
m
ac
w
s
do
ea
s
tic
aq
ua
l
ld
de
ra
ru
fie
tre
m es
ac
he chie
rb &
ga
ce s
re
rig
a
ue
tre ls
es
ue
rig
an
d
as
sl
gr
regional vegetation
local vegetation
ga
&
ie
ch
m
ac
w
s
at
w
et
re
pe
ed
ua
aq
m
tic
s
ea
do
fo
r
ain
pl
od
flo
ru
fie
ld
de
ra
l
an
d
as
sl
gr
800
tre
m es
ac
he chie
rb &
ga
ce s
re
rig
a
ue
tre ls
es
t
es
rig
ga
&
ie
ch
m
ac
regional vegetation
local vegetation
ue
tre
e
m s
ac
he chie
rb &
ce s
ga
re
rig
a
ue
tre ls
es
regional vegetation
1000
Islamic Period
Age in years cal. BP
1200
Visigoths Period
1400
1600
1800
20 40 60 80 100
20
40
60
20
40
60
20
40
60
20
40
20
40
200 400 600 800
300
600
Roman
Imperial Period
200 400 600 800
2000
1
2200
2400
2600
20 40 60 80 100
20
40
60
20
40
60
20
40
60
10
20
10
20
20
40
60
50
100
1000 2000 3000
10
20
30
500
2
3
1000
Fig. 4: Chronological comparison of the vegetation and landscape development in the different Geo-Bioarchives during roman time
20 40 60 80 100
20
40
60
20
40
60
20
40
60
20
40
60
20
40
References
Schneider, H., Höfer, D., Trog, C., Busch, S., Schneider, M., Baade, J., Daut, G. & R. Mäusbacher (2009): Holocene estuary development in the Algarve Region (Southern Portugal) - A reconstruction of sedimentological and ecological evolution. - Quaternary International (In Press, Accepted Manuscript, Available online 24 October 2009).
Vis, G.-J., Schneider, H., Bohncke, S.J.P., Kasse, C., Coenraads-Nederveen, S., Zuurbier, K. & J. Rozema (subm.): Holocene fluvial dynamics of the Lower Tagus Valley (Portugal).
Thanks to the German Science Foundation for the financial support
60
20
40
60
200 400 600 800
200 400 600 800
200 400 600 800
200 400 600 800
Iron Age/
Phoenician Period
During Iron Age anthropogenic influences are visible in the different sites
and are connected with a decrease in forest where as open land
communities typical for animal husbandry and extensive land use are
spreading.
With the beginning of the Roman Imperial Period tree values are higher
in all study areas, while also grassland and field species show increasing
values. This development points to a change in land use system
culminating in scheduled generated landscape and agricultural structures.
In the following Visigoths Period the roman structures were used and
only the field indicators show, that the areas for agricultural use
decreased.
At the beginning of the Islamic Period between 1240 and 1000 cal BP a
reforestation and a decrease in anthropogenic land use is visible. After
1000 cal. BP landscapes were characterised by forest clearance, shown
in the drastically increase of Macchie and Garrigue as well as the open
land communities, in general.