Carlo Alessandro Montanari

The Holocene landscape history of the NW Italian coasts.

Cores from four coastal plains of the Mar Ligure Sea in N Tuscany and E Liguria (Italy) were investigated by means of pollen analysis to delineate the Holocene landscape history of the NW Italian coasts. In the first half of the Holocene (c. 9800—7000 cal. yr BP) all four sites show elevated percentages of Abies pollen which suggest the local presence of fir woods (with Ulmus, Tilia, etc.). In the second half of the Holocene (from 7000 cal. yr BP), Abies becomes locally extinct along the coasts leaving space for the development of mosaic landscapes formed by open meso-thermophilous woods (with deciduous Quercus, Alnus , Corylus) and Mediterranean maquis (with Erica cf. arborea). The new data represent a significant contribution to the reconstruction of the landscape history of the NW Italian coasts and of the history of fir in Italy. Along all examined cores discontinuous pollen records show that initially the coastal areas were characterized by retrodunal wetlands; after c. 6000 cal. yr BP only the larger plains in N Tuscany remained extensively damp while the smaller plains in E Liguria were buried (and/or drained). Thus, these buried deposits of ‘fossil’ coastal wetlands proved to be only partially useful for high-resolution environmental archaeology and history studies. Nonetheless they are unique traces of ecosystems that provided important local economic resources for millennia and formed elements of the coastal cultural landscapes which have almost totally disappeared today.

Bet v 1‐like pollen allergens of multiple Fagales species can sensitize atopic individuals

In the temperate climate zone of the Northern hemisphere, Fagales pollen allergy represents the main cause of winter/spring pollinosis. Among Fagales trees, pollen allergies are strongly associated within the Betulaceae and the Fagaceae families. It is widely accepted that Fagales pollen allergies are initiated by sensitization against Bet v 1, the birch pollen major allergen, although evidence is accumulating that the allergenic activity of some Bet v 1‐like molecules has been underestimated.

Airborne pollen in Genoa (NW-Italy): a comparison between two pollen-sampling stations

A comparison between two pollen-sampling stationsin the city area of Genoa is presented. The samplingsites are placed 3 km apart, respectively in theeastern urban area (St. Martino Hospital – S.M.) andin the historical centre (Botanical Garden – B.G.).Pollen sampling was carried out during the years1995–1997 at the two different sites by volumetricHirst-type sampler and then compared. The dailyairborne pollen concentration of Urticaceae, Poaceae,Cupressaceae/Taxaceae, Corylaceae/Betulaceae andOleaceae resulted prevailingly higher at S.M., while a good correspondence was observed from a phenologicpoint of view. Asteraceae have shown the bestqualitative-quantitative consistency. In springtime adifference was recorded for Urticales, maybe due tolocal occurence (B.G.) of Broussonetia papyrifera(Moraceae). On the whole, the correspondence betweenthe two different sampling stations proved to besatisfactory.

Recherches géobotaniques sur les Monts Madonie (Sicile du Nord)

Le ricerche palinologiche sulle Madonie, le prime in Sicilia, si collocano a fianco degli studi fitosociologici che ne costituiscono lo stadio finale. Sono stati presi in considerazione ambienti umidi di altitudine alimentati da piccole sorgenti di strato. Si sono gia avuti risultati apprezzabili ai siti T13 (Urgo di Pietra Giordano, msm 1440, prof, cm 260, resti di faggeta). Nel profilo si ha un predominio della faggeta che si prolunga fino al periodo Atlantico, quando il querceto a dominante Quercus petraea inizia il suo predominio. Ilex aquijolium e presente lungo tutto il diagramma. Sono stati studiati legni fossili, che al livello—cm 150 hanno permesso una datazione assoluta di 9200 ± 90 B P. Al sito T 11 (Urgo di Pollicino, msm 1200, prof, cm 200, vegetazione atuale erbacea per denudamento antropico) si sono ricavati spettri con percentuali massicce di erbacee. Si sono utilizzati dati sedimentologici, si e proceduto allo studio di pollini di taxa attuali, quali Plantago cupani, Abies nebrodensis ecc.

A palynological contribution to the environmental archaeology of a Mediterranean mountain wetland (North West Apennines, Italy)

Within the framework of a regional research project on wetlands as cultural heritage sites, an attempt was made to examine the natural and anthropogenic causes driving the vegetation dynamics and exploitation of a small mountain wetland. To assess its potential use as an archive of the landscape history, an environmental archaeology approach was used: palaeoenvironmental data from traditional pollen sampling by coring were matched with stratigraphic information from an excavation area of several square metres, and plant micro- and macroremain analyses (e.g. pollen assemblages, micro- and macrocharcoal, morphological and dendrochronological features of waterlogged tree trunks) were compared in order to evaluate them as effects of different environmental factors and to pinpoint these factors. In this paper, the focus is set mainly on the results originating from pollen analyses of a core drilled in the peat-bog, a few metres from the stratigraphic excavation. The start of peat deposition, sometimes coinciding with human activity, was dated around 10,000 cal. BP. The impact on the vegetation surrounding the site is clearly recorded in the pollen assemblages only from the Roman period (2010–1820 cal. BP) even though a long history of human presence is archaeologically documented in the area since the Palaeolithic. Since that time, the abrupt decline of fir favoured the final spread of beech which, in turn, in the Middle Ages (1180–790 cal. BP) leaves space to grassland exploitable for pasture and for agro-silvi-pastoral activities. This site has proven to be of great importance for the Holocene history of the silver fir.

Pollen, herds, jasper and copper mines: economic and environmental changes during the 4th and 3rd millennia BC in Liguria (NW Italy)

Abstract This paper reviews the interdisciplinary projects carried out during the last 25 years in eastern Liguria (NW Italy). These have brought together archaeologists, geographers, palaeobotanists and historians in a series of research exercises based upon many different types of evidence: archaeological excavation and survey, ecological analysis of existing landscapes, geoarchaeological, anthracological and palynological analyses. Taken together, the results of this research provide a rich source of material for developing an understanding of how humans in eastern Liguria have interacted with the landscape through time. The influence of human activity on the vegetation of Liguria, in the Late Neolithic, Copper Age (Chalcolithic) and Bronze Age, is part of a complex system of agricultural activity mainly involving transhumant pastoralism. Several peat sites and buried soils have supplied the palaeoecological data that indicate the considerable effect of this economic activity on the landscape: a reduction in fir woodland, a decrease in arboreal species and an increase in the diversity of light demanding herbaceous and fern taxa. The environmental and economic changes during the 4th and 3rd millennia BC in eastern Liguria are also testified to by the starting of quarrying and mining activities to obtain both red jasper and copper.

Tracce polliniche di boschi eolitici di abete bianco in Val Bisagno (area urbana di Genova)

BIOGEOGFIAPHIA — vo/. XIX ~ 1997 (Pubblicato il 31 ottobre 1998) Gli effetti delle variazioni climatiche pleistoceniche sulla dinamica dei popolamenti animali e vegetali nella Penisola italiana Tracce polliniche di boschi neolitici di abete bianco in Val Bisagno (area urbana di GenoVa)1 CARLO MONTANARI, MARIAANGELA GUIDO, LAURA CORNARA, SANDRA PLACEREANI Istituto dz’ Botzmiaz ae[[’Unzverszt£z, Lzzeomtorio di Palinologizz £0750 Dogzzli, 16‘ — 16136 Geno?/zz Key words: Palaeoenvironment, Pollenspectra, N-W Italy. SUMMARY Preliminary results of pollen analysis concerning ancient clay layers are presented. These sediments were taken near the Bisagno stream (Genoa, northwestern Italy) not Far from its mouth. Seven drillings have been carried out, down to depth of 33 meters. Only Few layers have provided suitable pollen spectra, owing to a shortage of pollen grains. From the layers between 13 and 18 m of the S13bis drilling a pollen diagram has been obtained. This let us to malte out the environmental features of the low Bisagno valley during the middle Holocene. Some radiocarbon dates (GrA 5156 PV, S13 bis, 13,8 m: 6.200:5O B.P.; GtA 5157 PV, S13 bis, 18,2 m: 7,1301-50 B.P.) allow to relate these sediments to the Atlantic period (Neolithic age). These spectra are characterized by an abundance ofAl7ie: (silver fit), a rare species on the Ligurian Apennines at present; also Pimz: and Qltr:’IL‘lI5 (deciduous oaks) were frequent. More sporadically pollen of Cmylur (hazel), Picezz (spruce), Qzzerrm t. i/ex/tuber (evergreen oaks), Tilizz (lime), Am‘ (maple), etc. are Found. Even pollen of Casrarmz (sweet chestnut) and fzzg/an: (walnut) were observed. On the basis of these data and ecological remarks we could suggest that silver fir formed woodland especially on the surrounding reliefs, up to the highest ridges (800—1,000 m a.s.l.), together with pines, spruce, yew, and maybe even larch. At lower altitudes, down to the river banlcs, deciduous oaks dominated the landscape and the silver fit was possibly present too. The mediterranean evergreen forest or its degradation stages were not close to the site. Nevertheless, in most spectra non arboreal pollen prevail, reflecting plant communities of the river bed. INTRODUZIONE In occasione dei lavori svolti per la realizzazione di un autoparcheggio sot- tertaneo nell’area di piazza della Vittoria, at Geneva, sono stati eseguiti diversi sondaggi Che hanno fornito campioni di sedimento, in seguito sottoposti a Vari tipi di indagine (Fig. 1). Si presentano qui i risultati delle analisi polliniche svol- te su parte dei campioni prelevati. Una iprima relazione sintetica dei risultati delle ricerche palinologiche e stata pubblicata recentemente (Cornata et al., 1996). 1 Lo studio si riferisce al contratto di ricerca stipulato nel gennaio del 1995 tra lUniversita degli Studi di Genova (lstituto di Botanica) e la Societa Park Vittoria s.c.r.l. Lalrelazione dei risultati delle ricerche palinologiche e stata presentata nell’aprile 1996.

Biochemical and immunochemical characterization of hop-hornbeam (Ostrya Carpinifolia Scop.) pollen

In the last few years Ostrya carpinifolia pollen is consideredas an important cause of respiratoryallergy in Mediterranean areas. The concentration ofthe pollen was measured over a period of fifteen yearsfrom 1981 to 1996 in an area around Genoa; the resultsof this study have clearly indicated an increasingtrend that correlate with persons sensitization.In this study we sought to define the immunochemical andbiochemical properties of hop-hornbean pollen. Soluble proteins extracted from Ostryacarpinifolia pollen and from the taxonomicallyrelated species Corylus Avellana, were analyzedby polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE), byhorizontal isoelectrofocusing (IEF) and by twodimensions electrophoresis (2D-PAGE). Allergenicproteins were identified with sera of sensibilizedpatients and cross-reactivity was evaluated byimmunoblotting techniques. The electrophoreticanalysis showed a partial identity between theproteins from Ostrya and Corylus extracts. The immunoblotting assay, developed withhuman IgE from subjects allergic to hop-hornbeampollen, displayed the major IgE reactivity for acomponent with a molecular weight of 17 kDa expressedin both Ostrya and Corylus extracts. This reactivity is consistent with the presence ofBet v 1 that is described as the major pollen allergenin the Betulaceae and Corylaceae families. Sera fromsubjects allergic to Ostrya were then preadsorbed with recombinant Bet v 1 immobilized in the Pharmacia CAP System; a significant reduction ofthe IgE binding activity was observed after thetreatment. We therefore suggest that Bet v 1 couldbe one of the allergenic proteins present in theOstrya pollen possibly being responsible forcross-reactivity with other members of taxonomicallyrelated families.

Botanical relics of a lost landscape: herborising ‘upon the Cliffs about the Pharos’ in Genoa, March 1664

Abstract This paper uses approaches derived from historical ecology to show how knowledge can be gained about the historical and cultural value of neglected urban landscapes. We study the area around Genoa’s lighthouse and consider the long-term survival of individual plant species and some implications for landscape conservation. We examine topographical representations over the last 500 years to establish the landscape context of the lighthouse. We then analyse the records of plants collected by two English naturalists of the seventeenth century, John Ray and Francis Willughby, and demonstrate how the plants were identified and documented. We survey the current vegetation to establish whether any species identified in 1664 still grow at the site. This exploration of botanical ancestry at a local scale makes it possible to demonstrate cultural–historical values of the lighthouse rocks and their vegetation which should be considered as part of the cultural heritage of the city of Genoa.

Interdisciplinary approach for reconstructing an alder-based historical agricultural practice of the Eastern Ligurian Apennines (NW Italy)

Data from four soil profiles studied through pollen and macroscopic charcoal analyses were used to identify specific palynological assemblages associated with a traditional land-use system documented in the Eastern Ligurian Apennines (NW Italy) between the 18th and early 20th century, concerning a cyclical use of grey alder plots for temporary cultivations involving to the use of controlled fire. This is the first attempt to verify on palynological evidence some hypotheses raised by previous historical ecology studies about the consequences of this agricultural practice (recently named alnocoltura) on past and present vegetation. Our investigations underline (1) high percentages of anthropogenic pollen indicators, (2) increase of Ericaceae percentages, (3) low pollen percentages of Alnus, (4) high macrocharcoal concentrations and (5) high values of palynological richness during periods affected by the alnocoltura cycle according to the historical sources. Similar patterns are also detectable in pollen diagrams from two adjacent peat bogs. The paper shows the strength of an interdisciplinary methodology (field observations, cartographical and archival historical data, palynological and archaeological investigations) for studies of past land-use systems. By demonstrating the necessity of a long-term prospective in environmental reconstructions for the preservation of the cultural landscape, one of the important elements of this research is its potential contribution to issues of habitat management and nature-conservation policy. Further analyses are needed to test the replicability and reliability of the hypotheses derived from this study.