Morphological and sedimentary evolution of an alluvial floodplain in an urban area: geoarchaeological approaches and applications (Tours, France)

Morin, Eymeric; Rodier, Xavier; Laurent-Dehecq, Amélie; Macaire, Jean‐Jacques

doi:10.1016/j.jas.2014.03.021

Cited by 3 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 38 publications

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“…As a whole, the redundancy of some dates and factors such as old wood effect, residuality, mixing and erosional processes in fluvio-palustrine environments (Morin et al 2014;Sadori et al 2016) seem to have affected the results.…”

Section: Chronologymentioning

confidence: 99%

At the origins of Pompeii: the plant landscape of the Sarno River floodplain from the first millennium bc to the ad 79 eruption

Vignola

Bonetto

Furlan

et al. 2021

Veget Hist Archaeobot

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The ad 79 eruption of the Vesuvius severely affected the floodplain surrounding the ancient city of Pompeii, i.e. the Sarno River floodplain. The landscape was covered with volcaniclastic materials that destroyed the ecosystem but, at the same time, preserved the traces of former environmental conditions. This study provides—for the first time—a pollen sequence reconstructing the environmental evolution and the plant landscape of the Sarno floodplain between 900 and 750 cal bc and ad 79, i.e. before and during the foundation of the city, and during its life phases. Previous geomorphological studies revealed that the portion of the Sarno floodplain under the “Pompeii hill” was a freshwater backswamp with patchy inundated and dry areas. Palynology depicts a thin forest cover since the Early Iron Age, suggesting an open environment with a mosaic of vegetation types. The local presence of Mediterranean coastal shrubland, hygrophilous riverine forest and mesophilous plain forest is combined with the regional contribution of mountain vegetation through the sequence. Oscillations between inundated and wet ground characterized the studied area until the ad 79 eruption. Such a natural environment shows anthropogenic traits since pre-Roman times: pasturelands, cultivated fields and olive groves, which probably occupied drier soils. The most important change in the land use system was the introduction of cabbage cultivation in the fourth century bc and its intensification from the second century bc, when Roman influence grew. The presence of tree crops and of ornamental trees reveals the opulence of the Imperial age until the catastrophic eruption.

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Section: Chronologymentioning

confidence: 99%

At the origins of Pompeii: the plant landscape of the Sarno River floodplain from the first millennium bc to the ad 79 eruption

Vignola

Bonetto

Furlan

et al. 2021

Veget Hist Archaeobot

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“…For alluvial urban sites, the changes in the local river system and its effects on the environment are an important topic of study in many European countries (see for instance Morin, Rodier, Laurent‐Dehecq, & Macaire, ; Nicosia, ; Sidell, Wilkinson, Scaife, & Cameron, ). In Belgium, however, despite the numerous excavations in alluvial contexts and the discovery of ancient river embankments (see for instance Mora‐Dieu, ; Pype, Nijssen, & Coenaerts, ; Vermeiren, Bru, Bradt, & Laisnez, ), such studies remain rare.…”

Section: The Present: Key Issues and Current Debatesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Urban geoarchaeology in Belgium: Experiences and innovations

2019

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Geoarchaeological research in urban contexts is a relatively recent development in Belgian geoarchaeology, with pioneering studies dating back to the 1990s. In the beginning of the 21st century, a specific research protocol was developed in Brussels, and in the last years, there have been several attempts to apply a similar approach to urban contexts in Flanders and occasionally in Wallonia. Current debates in urban geoarchaeology mainly focus on: The study of site stratigraphy (microstratified layers and Dark Earths) The impact of urbanization on the soil Rivers in towns Reconstruction of the ancient relief and its modifications through time Soil erosion and soil protection Ancient soil pollution The integration of geoarchaeology with other archaeo‐environmental studies (archaeobotany, archaeozoology, etc.) Key themes for the future development of Belgian urban geoarchaeology include the in situ preservation of sites; a further integration with other methods and method development; systematic studies producing topographical insight and mapping; and synthesis work on critical issues.

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“…Questions often raised in the scientific literature relate to the date and form of the occupation phases of these waterfront cities, the effects of urbanisation on the evolution of riverbanks and the associated constraints and risks for human occupation in such locations (e.g. Arnaud-Fasseta et al 2009;Morin et al 2014). This is especially true in the Nile Valley, where large urban areas (notably harbours) have been heavily modified, and sometimes even buried, by river sedimentation and erosion (e.g.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%