Ambiente, clima e agricoltura del Salento medievale: le dinamiche di un millennio alla luce dei dati paleo-archeobotanici

Plant remains from excavations are one of several sources of evidence that can be brought to bear on studies of medieval agriculture, food, diet, trade and environment. This paper provides a brief overview of the main achievements of archaeobotanical work for Middle Ages archaeological contexts in Southern Italy (Salento Peninsula). Charcoals from archaeological sites proved to be useful proxy for the reconstruction of the history of vegetation in relation to human activities, and the potential shown by the archaeological comparison charcoal and pollen suggesting that changes are connected to economic and social dynamics, rather than climatic variations (cf. the olive spread). The study of plant macroremains, such as seeds and fruits, indicates the sites’ inhabitants practiced a diverse subsistence economy based on gathering of wild plants and cultivation of domesticated plants as wheat, barley, pulses and tree fruits, but also the introduction of new species as cocumber/melon and agrumes.