Timber economy in the Roman Age: charcoal data from the key site of Herculaneum (Naples, Italy)

Abstract

The city of Herculaneum (Naples, southern Italy), buried by the volcanic eruption of Mount Somma-Vesuvius in 79 ad, is a key site for understanding the timber economy during the Roman period. In this paper, the results of charcoal analysis of different building element types are presented. Beams, joists, poles, planks and door and window frames were investigated allowing us a view of which timber the Romans preferred for building in this area. We also fit the taxonomic results into the reconstruction of the ancient Campanian landscape, and finally, we discuss the knowledge that the Romans had about the technological properties of the wood that they used for building and the possible selection criteria that they followed in choosing them. Coniferous timber is the preferred material for building purposes. Abies alba is especially used, this fact confirming its stronger presence in southern Italian woods during the past and suggesting that its decline is mainly due to human overexploitation. The large presence of Cupressus sempervirens, selectively used for the production of poles, confirms that this tree was cultivated in plantations for timber production in the Vesuvius area. Furthermore, it might indicate that cypress could have been present as a natural tree in the local vegetation, suggesting a forest type that nowadays almost completely disappeared from this area and from the entire Italy. The findings of Juglans regia, Pinus pinea and Olea europaea, typical elements of the Mediterranean cultural landscape, show that their use was not limited to fruit production and that Romans also appreciated their timber. Beside these local resources, the presence of Picea abies and Picea/Larix indicates the importation of timber from northerly regions, probably the northern Apennines and the Alps

On the chronology and use of timber in the palaces and palace-like structures of the Sasanian Empire in “Persis” (SW Iran)

“…78 Tacitus, 1925), but also in timber plantations. Recent studies have shown that it was utilised in the construction of luxurious Roman villas, such as the Villa of Poppaea at Oplontis near Naples and the houses of Herculaneum (Moser et al, 2013;Moser et al, 2016). In Roman times, cypress wood was largely used in shipbuilding and other structures in long contact with water (Allevato et al, 2009;Colaianni et al, 2011;Sadori et al, 2015).…”

Lifestyle of a Roman Imperial community: ethnobotanical evidence from dental calculus of the Ager Curensis inhabitants

“…The pollen grains embedded in the dental calculus, as a consequence of possible accidental aspiration due to breathing, may testify the existence of the relative plant species in the past environments [19, 36]. Indeed, Juglans regia , Castanea sativa Mill., and Olea europaea L. were already diffused in the Mediterranean landscape and highly appreciated by the Romans for their timber and fruits [48, 49]. However, pollen could also be remained entrapped in tartar after ingestion processes.…”

Integrated biological and chemical characterisation of a pair of leonardesque canal lock gates

“…; b) P. abies (Norway spruce) ranges from about 800 to 2200 m a.s.l.. Since roman times and through the Middle Age, the woods of these two species have always been economically important both as structural woods and for their use in domestic and industrial products [33][34][35]. These considerations were consistent with the radiocarbon dating of the lock, around the XVI-XVIII centuries and with SEM analyses where the image of samples 2 highlighted the typical vessel structures of hardwood [1].…”