Several geoarchaeological methods were applied in the archaeological site of via Neroniana to study the landscape evolution. The area has been inhabited since the Copper Age; a large Roman villa and a Medieval settlement are documented by archaeological excavations. The site is located in a thermal area, well known since protohistory and exploited in Roman times for leisure and healing. The reconstruction of this unusual environment was approached by means of geomorphological, sedimentological, palaeobotanical, stratigraphic, soil micromorphological and radiocarbon dating methods. Sediments were collected in several drillings and archaeological open sections. Biological indicators were selected in the fossil records. The results integrate archaeology in providing a comprehensive framework of human-environment interactions. Six main phases are recognized: i) during the Last Glacial Maximum, alluvial and lacustrine sedimentation occurs - the presence of thermal diatoms and gastropods indicate that thermal waters feed the lake; ii) during the Late Glacial pollen and macro remains in lacustrine sediments record the forestation and the presence of a thermal flora on the lake shores; cessation of alluvial sedimentation initiates soil formation in the alluvial plain around the lacustrine basin; iii) in the middle Holocene (about 6000-4000 cal BP) an important alluvial event of the Brenta River causes the deposition of ca. 1 m of sediments over the well-developed soil; iv) on these alluvial deposits a new soil develops and the area is interested by Bronze Age frequentation; v) during the Roman age the hydrological conditions of the area and the attractive thermal springs lead to the building of the villa, through reclamation of part of the swampy lake shore by means of 1-2 m thick landfills; vi) a small Medieval settlement develops in the area of the former villa.
Geoarchaeological investigations in the Euganean thermal District: landscape evolution, palaeoenvironment reconstruction and human settlements at via Neroniana site (Montegrotto Terme-Northern Italy)
MIOLA, ANTONELLA;GAUDIOSO, BARBARA;MARITAN, MICHELE;MOZZI, PAOLO;
2011
Abstract
Several geoarchaeological methods were applied in the archaeological site of via Neroniana to study the landscape evolution. The area has been inhabited since the Copper Age; a large Roman villa and a Medieval settlement are documented by archaeological excavations. The site is located in a thermal area, well known since protohistory and exploited in Roman times for leisure and healing. The reconstruction of this unusual environment was approached by means of geomorphological, sedimentological, palaeobotanical, stratigraphic, soil micromorphological and radiocarbon dating methods. Sediments were collected in several drillings and archaeological open sections. Biological indicators were selected in the fossil records. The results integrate archaeology in providing a comprehensive framework of human-environment interactions. Six main phases are recognized: i) during the Last Glacial Maximum, alluvial and lacustrine sedimentation occurs - the presence of thermal diatoms and gastropods indicate that thermal waters feed the lake; ii) during the Late Glacial pollen and macro remains in lacustrine sediments record the forestation and the presence of a thermal flora on the lake shores; cessation of alluvial sedimentation initiates soil formation in the alluvial plain around the lacustrine basin; iii) in the middle Holocene (about 6000-4000 cal BP) an important alluvial event of the Brenta River causes the deposition of ca. 1 m of sediments over the well-developed soil; iv) on these alluvial deposits a new soil develops and the area is interested by Bronze Age frequentation; v) during the Roman age the hydrological conditions of the area and the attractive thermal springs lead to the building of the villa, through reclamation of part of the swampy lake shore by means of 1-2 m thick landfills; vi) a small Medieval settlement develops in the area of the former villa.
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