The paper presents synthetic pollen and microcharcoal data from the cores TaOr-orchestra and TaSc-scaena collected on-site in the Greek-Roman Theatre of Taormina, which was most probably built in Greek times, around the 3rd cent. BC and then restructured in Roman times. Data will be considered specifically to improve knowledge on the flora which characterized the site and the surroundings during the theatre’s past life with the aim of providing the scientific basis for the creation of an historical garden in and next to the theatre. Unfortunately, the cores did not provide undisturbed sequences as they consisted largely of reworked materials. Nevertheless, pollen from the two different points resulted in a relatively long plant list providing coherent, realistic and reliable information on the flora. Comparison with the recent spectra, from moss polster and surface soil samples, shows that past pollen rain was profoundly different from current rain, especially in terms of the presence in recent spectra of various exotics. Pollen indicated that the historical garden should feature: box, myrtle, rose, hawthorn, juniper and cypresses, together with plum, olive, chestnut and walnut trees, vines and also planes, pines, poplars, oaks (including holly oaks) and Acanthus.
The Greek-Roman theatre of Taormina: pollen and microanthracological data for the proposal of a ‘Historical Green Park’
MONTECCHI, Maria Chiara;
2006
Abstract
The paper presents synthetic pollen and microcharcoal data from the cores TaOr-orchestra and TaSc-scaena collected on-site in the Greek-Roman Theatre of Taormina, which was most probably built in Greek times, around the 3rd cent. BC and then restructured in Roman times. Data will be considered specifically to improve knowledge on the flora which characterized the site and the surroundings during the theatre’s past life with the aim of providing the scientific basis for the creation of an historical garden in and next to the theatre. Unfortunately, the cores did not provide undisturbed sequences as they consisted largely of reworked materials. Nevertheless, pollen from the two different points resulted in a relatively long plant list providing coherent, realistic and reliable information on the flora. Comparison with the recent spectra, from moss polster and surface soil samples, shows that past pollen rain was profoundly different from current rain, especially in terms of the presence in recent spectra of various exotics. Pollen indicated that the historical garden should feature: box, myrtle, rose, hawthorn, juniper and cypresses, together with plum, olive, chestnut and walnut trees, vines and also planes, pines, poplars, oaks (including holly oaks) and Acanthus.I documenti in SFERA sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
