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Historical Suitability and Sustainability of Sicani Mountains Landscape (Western Sicily): An Integrated Approach of Phytosociology and Archaeobotany

Author

Listed:
  • Giuseppe Bazan

    (Department of Biological, Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies (STEBICEF), University of Palermo, 90123 Palermo, Italy)

  • Claudia Speciale

    (National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology, 80124 Napoli, Italy)

  • Angelo Castrorao Barba

    (CSIC (Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas-Spanish National Research Council), EEA Escuela de Estudios Árabes, 18010 Granada, Spain)

  • Salvatore Cambria

    (Department of Geological, Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Catania, 95124 Catania, Italy)

  • Roberto Miccichè

    (Institute for Digital Exploration (IDEx)—History Department, South Florida University, Tampa, FL 33620, USA)

  • Pasquale Marino

    (Bona Furtuna LLC, Los Gatos, CA 95030, USA)

Abstract

Since 2015, the ongoing project “Harvesting Memories” has been focused on long-term landscape dynamics in Sicani Mountains (Western Sicily). Archaeological excavations in the case study site of Contrada Castro (Corleone) have investigated a settlement which was mainly occupied during the Early Middle Ages (late 8th–11th century AD). This paper aims to understand the historical suitability and sustainability of this area analysing the correlation between the current dynamics of plant communities and the historical use of woods detected by the archaeobotanical record. An integrated approach between phytosociology and archaeobotany has been applied. The vegetation series of the study area has been used as a model to understand the ecological meaning and spatial distribution of archaeobotanical data on charcoals from the Medieval layers of the Contrada Castro site. The intersection between the frequency data of the archaeobotanical record and the phytosociological analysis have confirmed the maintenance of the same plant communities during the last millennium due to the sustainable exploitation of wood resources. An integrated comparison between the structure and composition of current phytocoenoses with archaeobotanical data allowed us to confirm that this landscape is High Nature Value (HNV) farmland and to interpret the historical vegetation dynamics linked to the activities and economy of a rural community.

Suggested Citation

  • Giuseppe Bazan & Claudia Speciale & Angelo Castrorao Barba & Salvatore Cambria & Roberto Miccichè & Pasquale Marino, 2020. "Historical Suitability and Sustainability of Sicani Mountains Landscape (Western Sicily): An Integrated Approach of Phytosociology and Archaeobotany," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(8), pages 1-23, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:12:y:2020:i:8:p:3201-:d:345852
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Lorenzo Gianguzzi & Fabio Papini & Dario Cusimano, 2016. "Phytosociological survey vegetation map of Sicily (Mediterranean region)," Journal of Maps, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 12(5), pages 845-851, October.
    2. Giuseppe Bazan & Angelo Castrorao Barba & Antonio Rotolo & Pasquale Marino, 2020. "Vegetation series as a marker of interactions between rural settlements and landscape: new insights from the archaeological record in Western Sicily," Landscape Research, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 45(4), pages 484-502, May.
    3. Eleni Asouti & Phil Austin, 2005. "Reconstructing Woodland Vegetation and its Exploitation by Past Societies, based on the Analysis and Interpretation of Archaeological Wood Charcoal Macro-Remains," Environmental Archaeology, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 10(1), pages 1-18, April.
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    Cited by:

    1. Rosario Schicchi & Claudia Speciale & Filippo Amato & Giuseppe Bazan & Giuseppe Di Noto & Pasquale Marino & Pippo Ricciardo & Anna Geraci, 2021. "The Monumental Olive Trees as Biocultural Heritage of Mediterranean Landscapes: The Case Study of Sicily," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(12), pages 1-17, June.
    2. Angelo Castrorao Barba & Carla Aleo Nero & Giuseppina Battaglia & Luca Zambito & Ludovica Virga & Alessandra Messina & Marco Cangemi & Giuseppe Bazan, 2024. "Continuity, Resilience, and Change in Rural Settlement Patterns from the Roman to Islamic Period in the Sicani Mountains (Central-Western Sicily)," Land, MDPI, vol. 13(3), pages 1-36, March.
    3. Carole L. Crumley, 2021. "Historical Ecology: A Robust Bridge between Archaeology and Ecology," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(15), pages 1-12, July.
    4. Angela Alessandra Badami, 2021. "Managing the Historical Agricultural Landscape in the Sicilian Anthropocene Context. The Landscape of the Valley of the Temples as a Time Capsule," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(8), pages 1-30, April.
    5. Giuseppe Bazan & Angelo Castrorao Barba, 2022. "Historical Ecology, Archaeology and Biocultural Landscapes: Cross-Disciplinary Approaches to the Long Anthropocene," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(9), pages 1-4, April.

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