Pollen and spores provide essential data for reconstructing vegetation patterns and climatic variations over long-time spans, which are fundamental for a correct understanding and interpretation of the paleoenvironment and paleoeconomy of ancient societies. The aim of this study is to investigate the Sardinian flora across the centuries marked by the development of prehistoric cultures, and to explore the choices and activities of human communities in relation to their surrounding environment, as well as the evolution of vegetation and the use of wild and cultivated plants. To reach this goal, we examined several archaeological sites in central and southern Sardinia (Italy, western Mediterranean): the Su Carroppu Rockshelter (Carbonia, SU), the open-air domestic settlement of Su Mulinu Mannu (Terralba, OR) and the open-air settlement of Gribaia (Terralba, OR). The Holocene landscape emerging from the preliminary data acquired, cross-referenced with previously published evidence, depicts an Island that is both rich and environmentally diverse, characterised by evergreen forests, shrub formations, and herbaceous vegetation typical of Mediterranean scrub. In the more inland areas, wide conifers forest, wild trees and shrubs, and herbaceous species prevailed; in coastal and lagoonal contexts, congruent species were found, including plants typical of aquatic environments and saline soils. In general, domesticated species, especially cereals and legumes, appear to have been introduced since the Middle Neolithic. While during the Mesolithic and Early Neolithic, the plant landscape still retained its original characteristics, starting in the Middle Neolithic and the subsequent Eneolithic, it underwent increasing alterations due to human activities, such as deforestation and wood harvesting. Although this research is still an early phase, it clearly demonstrates the value of an interdisciplinary approach.
The paleoenvironment of Sardinia between the 6th and 5th millennium BC: preliminary results of palynological analyses
Carla Mulas
;Laura Fanti;Gian Luigi Pillola;Carla Buosi
2026-01-01
Abstract
Pollen and spores provide essential data for reconstructing vegetation patterns and climatic variations over long-time spans, which are fundamental for a correct understanding and interpretation of the paleoenvironment and paleoeconomy of ancient societies. The aim of this study is to investigate the Sardinian flora across the centuries marked by the development of prehistoric cultures, and to explore the choices and activities of human communities in relation to their surrounding environment, as well as the evolution of vegetation and the use of wild and cultivated plants. To reach this goal, we examined several archaeological sites in central and southern Sardinia (Italy, western Mediterranean): the Su Carroppu Rockshelter (Carbonia, SU), the open-air domestic settlement of Su Mulinu Mannu (Terralba, OR) and the open-air settlement of Gribaia (Terralba, OR). The Holocene landscape emerging from the preliminary data acquired, cross-referenced with previously published evidence, depicts an Island that is both rich and environmentally diverse, characterised by evergreen forests, shrub formations, and herbaceous vegetation typical of Mediterranean scrub. In the more inland areas, wide conifers forest, wild trees and shrubs, and herbaceous species prevailed; in coastal and lagoonal contexts, congruent species were found, including plants typical of aquatic environments and saline soils. In general, domesticated species, especially cereals and legumes, appear to have been introduced since the Middle Neolithic. While during the Mesolithic and Early Neolithic, the plant landscape still retained its original characteristics, starting in the Middle Neolithic and the subsequent Eneolithic, it underwent increasing alterations due to human activities, such as deforestation and wood harvesting. Although this research is still an early phase, it clearly demonstrates the value of an interdisciplinary approach.
I metadati presenti in IRIS UNICA sono rilasciati con licenza Creative Commons CC0 1.0 Universal, mentre i file delle pubblicazioni sono protetti da diritto d'autore, salvo diversa indicazione.
