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Plant Assemblage of the Phoenician Sacrificial Pit by the Temple of Melqart/Herakles (Motya, Sicily, Italy)
Abstract
Archaeobotanical remains from the Phoenician – Punic site of Motya, set in the Marsala Lagoon in Western Sicily (Italy), were collected through flotation and sieving during the excavation campaigns of 2017–2019. Analyses focused on a sacrificial favissa, on the SW side of the Temple of Cappiddazzu, dedicated to Melqart/Herakles, where the buried remains of seven bovines were also found. Plant remains, preserved mostly by mineralisation, provide information about ritual practices. The retrieval of toxic plants to livestock (some Boraginaceae and Euphorbiaceae, and Anagallis arvensis) suggests their use to stun animals before sacrificing them. Additionally, remains referable to fruit (Vitis vinifera) and flower offerings (Verbena officinalis), as well as ornamental (Cupressus cf. sempervirens) and officinal plants (Borago officinalis) were also found.
... While walnuts and hazelnuts, among others, are likely related to food consumption, the presence of Cupressus sempervirens (non-edible) and Pinus pinea cones could have another interpretation. Both cypress and stone pine were grown ornamentally in the Roman world [49][50][51]. Cypress was charged with mythological and religious symbolism by ancient Romans, that linked it to the funerary world and to the cult of Apollo. Ancient poets Ovid (43 BC-17 AD) and Virgil (70-19 BC) associated this tree to death and funerals in their writing [50], while Pliny (23-79 AD) reports a link between cypress and the Roman god Dis [51]. ...
... Cypress was charged with mythological and religious symbolism by ancient Romans, that linked it to the funerary world and to the cult of Apollo. Ancient poets Ovid (43 BC-17 AD) and Virgil (70-19 BC) associated this tree to death and funerals in their writing [50], while Pliny (23-79 AD) reports a link between cypress and the Roman god Dis [51]. Written documentation concerning the ritual use of P. pinea cones comes from 3rd and 4th century AD Egyptian papyri, that mention them being designated for sacrificial purposes [49]. ...
Archaeobotanical analyses in Italy are uneven in terms of geographical and chronological distribution. Amongst the different regions, Abruzzi is poorly represented, with only one study covering the Roman Age. In this framework, the analyses carried out on carpological remains collected from the Late Roman (late 5th-early 6th century AD) filling of a well in the Sanctuary of Hercules in Alba Fucens represents an important addition to the state of the art. The plant assemblage consists of over 1500 remains attributed to 68 different taxa. These are partly represented by gathered fruit plants, such as Corylus avellana, Juglans regia and Sambucus nigra, while cereals and pulses are missing. An interesting aspect is represented by evergreen plants (Pinus pinea and Cupressus sempervirens) that are likely to have been used for ritual purposes rather than for human consumption. Finally, the impressive amount of ruderal and spontaneous plants represents a unicum for this type of study, allowing us to describe the past environment surrounding Alba Fucens, characterized by substantial water availability, Apennine grasslands and influenced by human presence.
... Outre la présence de fruits, des charbons de bois de Pistacia sont également attestés parmi les vestiges archéo-botaniques et indiquent la possibilité de l'exploitation de cette ressource végétale comme combustible. L'hypothèse de carbonisation involontaire de fruits avec du bois de Pistacia utilisé comme combustible est possible (Nisbet, 1980 ;Buxó-Piquet, 2008 ;Grau Almero, 2003Kabukcu, 2018 ;Roberts et al., 2018 ;Moricca et al., 2020 ;Rousou et al., 2021 ;Willcox, 2011). Bien qu'une identification plus poussée de charbons de bois de Pistacia jusqu'au niveau de l'espèce puisse être délicate, si toutes les caractéristiques identiques à l'anatomie du bois de lentisque ne sont pas atteintes (Grundwag & Werker, 1976 ;Schweingruber 1990), l'hypothèse de la présence du lentisque parmi les charbons de Pistacia ne peut pas être rejetée. ...
Dans le cadre du projet de coopération « MEDLENTISK, Partenariat pour un échange de bonnes pratiques sur l’huile fixe de lentisque, un produit forestier non-ligneux emblématique en Méditerranée« , co-financé par le Programme ERASMUS+, l’AIFM et ses partenaires méditerranéens ont publié un ouvrage à l’intention des personnes désireuses d’en apprendre plus sur le pistachier lentisque (Pistacia lentiscus). Plus précisément, sur l’huile issue de ses fruits. Ce guide permet d’avoir une idée sur ses vertus, ses usages à travers le temps, les manières d’extraire l’huile dans le bassin méditerranéen et les dernières innovations permettant d’obtenir de l’huile de meilleure qualité. Ce guide vous accompagnera dans la découverte ou redécouverte de cet arbuste buissonnant caractéristique du bassin méditerranéen et de son huile.
... In addition to the presence of fruit, charcoal from Pistacia wood is also attested among the archaeobotanical remains and indicates the possibility of the exploitation of this plant resource as fuel. The hypothesis of involuntary charring of fruit with Pistacia wood used as fuel is possible (Nisbet, 1980;Buxó-Piquet, 2008;Grau Almero, 2003Kabukcu, 2018;Roberts et al., 2018;Moricca et al., 2020;Rousou et al., 2021;Willcox, 2011). Although further identification of Pistacia wood charcoals down to the species level may be tricky, if not all features identical to the anatomy of lentisk wood are achieved (Grundwag & Werker, 1976;Schweingruber 1990), the hypothesis of the presence of lentisk among Pistacia charcoals cannot be rejected. ...
Mediterranean forests produce many goods and services, such as wood, but
also various non-wood products (mushrooms, honey, cork, resins, aromatic
and medicinal plants, pine nuts).
The State of Mediterranean Forests 2018, published by the Food and
Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations and Plan Bleu, reminds
us of the importance of these Non-Wood Forest Products (NWFPs), whose
value often exceeds that of wood and whose role in the development of the
rural populations living in the area is fundamental. It also recalls that these
resources (except for cork and pine nuts) are not well known, although they
generate great value, hence the need to increase data and knowledge.
Non-Wood Forest Products are part of the cultural heritage of the
Mediterranean basin. They contribute to human health and well-being as
well as to the achievement of the United Nations Sustainable Development
Goals, notably #2, #6, #12 and #13 (FAO and Plan Bleu, 2018).
Supported by the European Erasmus+ program, the project "MEDLENTISK:
Partnership for the exchange of good practices on fixed lentisk oil, an
emblematic Non-Wood Forest Product in the Mediterranean" has enabled
six partners from five Mediterranean countries to come together to set up
a collective reflection process on the lentisk tree in the Mediterranean, and
more specifically on its fixed oil, its production, and applications.
Despite the difficulties linked to the health crisis and travel restrictions, the
partners were able to meet and make exchanges on the lentisk tree and its
Non-Wood Forest Products on several occasions. Emphasis was placed on a
little-known product that is widespread in certain Mediterranean localities:
fixed oil from the lentisk tree.
This guide was thus developed to present this Non-Wood Forest Product in
an accessible format, which is typically Mediterranean and has numerous
properties.
... Evidence of Vitis vinifera in Phoenician sites is also found in association with animal bones (e.g. Moricca et al., 2020;Portas et al., 2015), as it is believed that the waste from winemaking was used by Phoenicians for meat preservation thanks to the antioxidant capacity of grapes (Sabato et al., 2019). ...
The present study aims to contribute to the investigation of the role of Phoenicians in the spreading and trade of the grapevine through the morphometric analysis of grape pips. Waterlogged and charred samples were selected from three Iron Age sites in the Western Mediterranean: Motya (Sicily, Italy), Nuraghe S’Urachi (Sardinia, Italy)
and Huelva (Andalusia, Spain). While only Motya is a Phoenician foundation, all three were nevertheless associated with Phoenician expansion and cultural interaction. Ten cultivars from the “Vivaio Federico Paulsen” in Marsala (western Sicily) were chosen as modern reference material.
The key challenge was the comparison of archaeological pips preserved through different fossilization processes, which was overcome using two reference datasets of the same modern cultivars, one uncharred and one charred.
Statistical analyses of pip outlines show that archaeological remains from these sites is morphologically comparable to that of modern varieties, suggesting that the archaeological finds represent domesticated grapevines.
PCA analyses allowed an inter-site comparison, showing that samples from the three sites are clearly distinguishable based on their morphology. This indicates the use of different varieties which may be due to different factors.
Our analysis represents a first step towards a better understanding of diachronic and synchronic relationship between vines grown in the ancient West Mediterranean, which could be expanded by analysing grape pips from more contexts and more sites, compared against a wider selection of modern cultivars.
The Philistine culture (Iron Age, ca. 1200-604 BCE) profoundly impacted the southern Levant's cultural history, agronomy, and dietary customs. Nevertheless, our knowledge of the Philistines’ cultic praxis and deities, is limited and uncertain. Here, we combine archaeological data with a meticulous study of plant use at two successive temples at Tell eṣ-Ṣâfī/Gath. We provide a list of the plants used, their time of harvest, mode of offering, and possible symbolism. Analysis of the temples' macrobotanical (seed and fruits) plant assemblage reveals the offerings; that the inception date for rites was early spring; and sheds light on the date of the final utilization of the temples (late summer/early fall). Besides food crops, we note the earliest cultic use of chaste tree (Vitex agnus-castus), crown daisy (Glebionis coronaria), and scabious (Lomelosia argentea). These wide-spread Mediterranean plants were known so far only in later cults—of early Greek deities, such as Hera, Artemis, Demeter, and Asclepios. We discuss the data as reflecting that the Philistine religion relied on the magic and power of nature, such as fresh water and seasonality, which influence human life, health, and activity. In sum, our results offer novel insights into the culture of the Philistines.
The recovery, identification, and analysis of archaeobotanical remains can help address a wide range of archaeological and historical research questions, from foodways, to the agricultural economy, to ritual practice and social identity. This state of the discipline article reviews the application of archaeobotanical techniques to classical archaeology from historical, regional, and thematic perspectives. It also highlights current challenges and limitations in the field of archaeobotany. The article concludes with some suggestions for future directions to improve the practice and outcomes of the discipline. Classical-period archaeobotanical research has not yet reached its full potential, and despite facing some internal and external issues, we envision a bright future for both archaeobotanical and classical archaeological research with a greater degree of communication and collaboration between the two fields.
The present study concerns the Phoenician-Punic site of Motya, a small island set in Western Sicily (Italy), in the Marsala Lagoon (Stagnone di Marsala), between Trapani and Marsala. A big disposal pit, datable to between the first half of the 8th and the mid-6th century bc, was identified in Area D. This context was sampled for plant macro-remains through bucket flotation. Palynological treatment and analysis were also performed on soil samples collected from each of the identified filling layers. The combination of the study of macro- and micro-remains has shown to be effective in answering questions concerning introduced food plants and agricultural practices, and native plants, including timber use. Here we investigate if a waste context can provide information about Phoenicians at Motya and their impact on the local plant communities. We found that human diet included cereals (mostly naked wheat), pulses and fruits. A focus was placed on weeds (including Lolium temulentum and Phalaris spp.) referable to different stages of crop processing. This aspect was enriched by the finding of cereal pollen, which suggests that threshing (if not even cultivation) was carried out on site. Palynology also indicates an open environment, with little to no forest cover, characterized by complex anthropogenic activities. Anthracology suggests the presence of typical Mediterranean plant taxa, including not only the shrubs Pistacia lentiscus and Erica multiflora, but also evergreen oaks. The presence of a stone pine nut and of Pinus pinea/pinaster in the pollen rain is noteworthy, suggesting the local occurrence of these Mediterranean pines outside their native distribution range. This represents the first such find in the central Mediterranean. Finally, the present study allows us to compare Motya’s past environment with the present one. The disappearance of Juniperus sp. and Erica arborea from the present-day surroundings of the Marsala lagoon appears to be related to land-overexploitation, aridification or a combination of both processes.
Sapienza University of Rome and the Superintendence of Trapani have been carrying on a major research project on the island of Motya since year 2002. Renewed excavations, restorations and studies over 15 years produced a flow of fresh data which substantially changed the narration of the history of the island from a prominent prehistoric occupation in the first half of the second millennium BC to the Phoenician landing and development of a flourishing harbour city at the centre of the Mediterranean, until its final destruction in 397/6 BC by Dionysious of Syracuse, later surviving as seat of industrial activities and of a rural religious outpost. This paper summarizes most recent results of fieldwork and related studies, highlighting what has changed in the archaeological record, as well as in the historical interpretation. Premessa ' impegno della Sapienza a Mozia, iniziato per volere di Sa-batino Moscati nel 1964 e ripreso con il sostegno di Paolo Matthiae e Vincenzo Tusa nel 2002, si è concretizzato in quindici campagne annuali di scavo (xxii-xxxvi, 2002-2016), studio e restauro, che sono state orientate da precisi interro-gativi storico-archeologici, elencati nel primo rapporto di scavi della rinata missione.1 Queste domande storiche non soltanto hanno ricevuto delle puntuali risposte,2 ma hanno allo stesso tempo aperto nuove prospettive, dilatando i termini spazio-temporali delle indagini, problematizzando ed arricchendo i temi, i confini e i metodi dell'archeologia feni-cio-punica. Nuove prospettive di ricerca hanno illuminato lo studio delle relazioni con il Levante, con le culture indigene del Mediterraneo, del Nord Africa e dell'Europa continenta-le.3 Metodi e applicazioni tecnologiche innovativi hanno pro-dotto informazioni nuove che, a loro volta, hanno profonda-mente cambiato le concezioni e gli approcci alla storia dei Fenici.4 Non tutti gli ambiti accademici hanno saputo o han-no voluto riconoscere queste novità, per ragioni che ai letto-ri più scaltri certamente non sfuggiranno. E questo nono-stante la Missione sia stata insignita nel 2012 del Research Grant della Honor Frost Foundation5 e lo scrivente della Kress Lectureship dell'Archaeological Institute of America per il 2015-2016. Un solo caso è sufficiente da esempio. Quan-do dieci anni fa prospettammo la necessità-basata su una nuova analisi stratigrafica e su nuove seriazioni dei materiali6-di riaprire il tema della cronologia e delle modalità della fondazione di Mozia e della espansione fenicia, questo fu considerato un azzardo. Oggi nuove ricerche da Cadice7 a Utica,8 alla stessa Sidone,9 mostrano come quello intuìto a Mozia era un fenomeno generale. Lo stesso è accaduto per l'interpretazione della piscina sacra del Tempio di Baal, detta "Kothon", e si potrebbe continuare. Credo, tuttavia, che sia molto più affascinante oltre che utile rivolgersi di nuovo alle indagini seguendo le piste aperte dalle nuove scoperte, senza perdere tempo con chi preferisce criticare senza conoscere in modo sterile e a volte anche estremamente maleducato (co-me accadde sfortunatamente proprio durante il Congresso di cui in questa sede si pubblicano gli atti) il lavoro altrui non potendo, volendo o sapendo illustrare il proprio. Gli scavi della Sapienza, inoltre, nell'ultimo decennio han-no profondamente trasformato le diverse aree archeologiche presenti sull'isola con interventi di restauro e musealizzazione in una straordinaria sinergia con la Soprintendenza BBCCAA di Trapani e la Fondazione G. Whitaker, facendo di Mozia uno dei pochi siti fenici pienamente fruibili dal punto di vista turi-stico del Mediterraneo. Ma, ancora di più, essi hanno arricchi-to, umanamente e professionalmente, ciascuno dei più di quattrocento membri della missione che si sono avvicendati insieme agli operai di Marsala e al personale della Fondazione Whitaker durante intense e indimenticabili campagne di scavo sulla piccola-grande isola siciliana. La pubblicazione dei risultati dei lavori svolti è stata sempre una priorità della Missione della Sapienza che la considera un dovere civico, oltre che un obbligo scientifico. Per questa ra-gione e per la stima che mi lega a Piero Bartoloni, ho accettato di offrire in questa sede una sintesi delle principali indagini svolte negli ultimi cinque anni. La Missione della Sapienza è stata la prima a produrre una periodizzazione archeologica complessiva dell'Isola (Tab. 1), mettendo in fase le diverse sequenze stratigrafiche delle aree scavate dalle missioni che vi hanno lavorato e, allo stesso tempo , ha imposto una griglia topografica su Mozia, per rendere univoci i riferimenti spaziali (Fig. 1). Questi due strumenti so-no fondamentali per chiunque voglia parlare o scrivere di Mo-zia in termini archeologici scientifici.
Whilst one of the most prestigious cults in Antiquity, the Greek and Roman worship to the god Herakles settle down on an ancient Phoenician liturgy dedicated to the god Melqart. With the support of epigraphy, textual documentation and archaeological material culture, it is possible to establish the differences and the proximities of these two deities. In this article, I will present some of the main theories on the origin of the divinized ancestral until its recognition as the Greek hero via interpretatio graeca, which culminated in the identification of the Far West of the Mediterranean as the famous Herakles/Melqart Pillars.
Resumo: Enquanto um dos cultos mais prestigiados na Antiguidade, a vene-ração grega e romana ao deus Héracles e Hércule se estabeleceu sobre uma antiga liturgia fenícia dedicada ao deus Melqart. Com o suporte da epigrafia, da documentação textual e da cultura material arqueológica é possível estabelecer as diferenças e as proximidades dessas duas divindades. Nesse artigo apresen-taremos algumas das principais teorias sobre a origem do culto desse ancestral divinizado até a sua identificação com o herói grego via interpretatio graeca, essa que culminou no reconhecimento do Extremo Ocidente do Mediterrâneo en-quanto as Colunas de Héracles/Melqart. Resumen: Como uno de los cultos más prestigiosos de la Antigüedad, la vene-ración griega y romana del dios Heracles se estableció sobre una antigua litur-gia fenicia dedicada al dios Melqart. Con el apoyo de la epigrafía, la documen-tación textual y del material arqueológico, es posible establecer las diferencias y la proximidad de estas dos deidades. En este artículo presentaremos algunas de las principales teorías sobre el origen de la adoración de este ancestro deificado hasta su identificación con el héroe griego a través de interpretatio graeca, que culminó en la identificación del Extremo Occidente del Mediterráneo Oriental como las columnas de Héracles/Melqart.
The objective of this research is to reconstruct the recent Holocene history of Cupressus sempervirens from the Bronze to the Roman Age in Italy. Our work consisted both in a review of published data and in the identification of novel archaeobotanical remains stored in the deposits of the National Archaeological Museum of Naples and of the Archaeological Park of Pompeii. The literature permitted to collect information linked to different plant remain typologies of the Italian cypress; 362 botanical remains were counted, of which 292 were from the Vesuvian area and 70 from other archaeological sites of the central and western Mediterranean. Data chronology spans from the second century BC to the AD fifth century for the archaeological area of ancient Campania and from the 14th century BC to the AD fourth century for the sites located in different regions. It is clear that the ‘cypress culture’ is confirmed by the archaeobotanical data found in the Roman world. Romans especially appreciated its timber but cypress was also used for many other purposes. Furthermore, the employment of timber for wells was documented in pre-Roman sites and the presence of fruits/seeds in central Italy confirms its importance also in the Bronze Age.
This paper presents a review of records of pollen and botanical macroremains of a selection of food plants from late and post-medieval cesspits (12th century-19th century ad) in the Netherlands and northern Belgium. The presented data demonstrate that several food plants remain largely invisible in the macrobotanical records. These are all plants from which the flowers or flower buds (Borago officinalis, Capparis, Carthamus tinctorius, Crocus sativus, Syzygium aromaticum) or leaves (Anthriscus cerefolium, Spinacia oleracea) are eaten, or that are typical components of honey (Cistus). As a result, little is known about the import or local production and consumption of these food plants in these times. This review now shows that past use of some of these plants is reflected in the pollen assemblages of (post-) medieval cesspits. For the first time, a large archaeobotanical dataset is presented, including pollen, providing information on the past use of these plants between the 12th and 19th century ad in the Netherlands and Belgium.
Chicory (Cichorium intybus) is a perennial herbal plant of the dandelion family Asteraceae, usually with bright blue flowers, rarely pink or white. Several varieties are cultivated for salad leaves, chicons, or roots which are baked, ground, and used as a coffee substitute and supplement. It is also grown as a forage plant for poultry and animal. In addition, chicory herb plays a key role as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, sedative, immunological, productive and reproductive enhancer, cardiovascular, hypolipidemic, anticancer, anti-protozoal, gastro-protective, antidiabetic, analgesic, anthelmintic, antimicrobial, wound healing and bitter tonic without inducing therapeutic adverse effect. Regarding the hepatoprotective activity, chicory extract reduced the levels of hepatic enzymes such as alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and alkaline phosphatase (ALP).Also, chicory plant is a good and very important protective source for hepatocytes and other liver cells as well as it is used as prebiotic against some species of pathogenic bacteria for both in vitro and in vivo. Moreover, it enhances immunity and feed efficiency by decreasing pathogenic microorganisms of gastrointestinal tract. Cichorium intybus roots also were used for the relief of mild digestive disorders, such as feeling of flatulence, abdominal fullness, temporary loss of appetite and slow digestion. The present review highlights the importance of chicory as a feed additive used to improve growth and productive performance of poultry as well as salient beneficial applications in animals and humans. Furthermore, it explains the mechanisms of action underlying the beneficial effects of chicory and to find the effective level in poultry that would act as liver tonic.
Phytochemical analysis showed that the different parts Cichorium intybus contained sesquiterpene lactones (especially lactucin, lactucopicrin, 8-desoxy lactucin,, wound healing and many other pharmacological effects. This review was designed to highlight the chemical constituents and medical importance of Cichorium intybus.
This chapter discusses some of the principles behind archaeobotanical analysis. Archaeobotany is the art and science of recovering, identifying, and interpreting plant remains from archaeological sites. Some authors prefer to call the discipline paleoethnobotany, stressing the relationships between past cultures and the plant kingdom. The chapter focuses on the preserved traces of ancient food plants and also describes other types of botanical remains, including fibers, wood, charcoal, pollen, and plant crystals. The formal study of plant remains from archaeological sites can be traced back to at least 1826 when Kunth published an analysis of mummified cereals, fruits, and seeds from dry Egyptian tombs (Kunth 1826). Other pioneering efforts in archaeobotany also focused on sites with exceptional organic preservation. Archaeobatany has undergone a methodological revolution with the adoption of flotation as a tool for recovering small charred plant remains. Concurrent with the wider application of flotation, archaeobotany is also undergoing a theoretical revolution.
This review focuses on poisonings in companion animals, including horses, farm animals and wildlife, investigated and recorded during the past ten years at the Laboratory of Toxicology of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine (Ghent University) and the National Poison Centre in Belgium. The causative agents of poisoning incidents vary among the different species. The Laboratory of Toxicology of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine reports that the majority of poisoning incidents in companion animals, and especially in dogs and cats, are due to contact with insecticides and pesticides, whereas horses are more frequently poisoned by plant toxins. Farm animals, on the other hand, are mainly intoxicated by heavy metals, toxic plants and agrochemicals. The Belgian Poison Centre reports that intoxications in companion animals are mostly with agrochemicals, household products and drugs, whereas in farm animals intoxications with agrochemicals are a common problem. This review gives an overview of the most common causes of intoxication and their association with the different animal species. In addition, some rare or difficult to diagnose intoxications are described, which account for a small number of poisoning cases.
La religión fue un componente sustancial en el proceso colonizador fenicio, ya que los templos ejercían una gran influencia en las transacciones comerciales, algo muy importante dentro del marco de esta sociedad. Como corolario, la moneda, aunque mantenía una clara base económica, también ejercía una base religiosa, que reforzaba su legalidad. En Hispania, este sustrato religioso, queda bien reflejado en las emisiones de moneda de las cecas hispanas durante el periodo fenicio-púnico y la etapa republicana romana. La amonedación de este periodo, debido a la gran cantidad de cecas existentes, presenta una amplia iconografía sagrada, tanto a través de la presencia de las divinidades autóctonas y/o sus símbolos, como en la aparición, después de la conquista romana, de divinidades romanas y/o sus símbolos, sincretizadas culturalmente con los cultos existentes.
Pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PAs) are carcinogenic and genotoxic phytochemicals found exclusively in angiosperms. The ingestion of PA-containing plants often results in acute and chronic toxicities in man and livestock, targeting mainly the liver. During February 2014, a herd of 15-18 months old mixed breed beef cattle (n=73) from the Galilee region in Israel, was accidently fed hay contaminated with 12% Heliotropium europaeum (average total PA intake was 33 mg PA/kg BW/d). After 42 d of feed ingestion sudden death occurred over a time period of 63 d with a mortality rate of 33%. Necropsy and histopathological examination revealed fibrotic livers, moderate ascites, as well as various degrees of bile duct epithelial cells hyperplasia and fibrosis. Elevated ɤ-glutamyl-transferase and alkaline phosphatase levels were indicative of severe liver damage. Comprehensive PA-profile determination of the contaminated hay and of native H. europaeum by LC-MS/MS, revealed the presence of 30 PAs and PA-N-oxides, including several newly reported PAs and PA-N-oxides of the rinderine and heliosupine class. Heliotrine and lasiocarpine-type PAs constituted 80% and 18% of the total PAs, respectively with the N-oxides being the most abundant form (92%). The PA-profile of the contaminated hay showed very strong resemblance to that of H. europaeum.
The aim of this study was the inventory and the identification of labiates among the medicinal plants used in traditional medicine by the community of M'sila, North center-East of Algeria. Ethno-botanical data from local population were collected by direct interviews and a semi-structured questionnaire carried out by interviewees belonging to the population. Various data on informants were noted. From 82 plant species belonging to 33 families listed, Lamiaceae species represent 22% of the total plants listed and 48.6% of the frequency of use. Their botanical and vernacular names, medicinal part used and uses are given. Among diseases and ailments treated by labiates are stomach troubles and colic, diabetes, rheumatism, hypertension, eczema, anemia and cancer. Medicinal plants are frequently employed for treatment of ailments and illness in the community of M'sila in spite of the availability of the prescribed drugs. The documentation of this ethno-medicinal knowledge is important. The evaluation of the pharmacological activity for promising medicinal plants is suggested.
Swedish coffee (Astragalus boeticus) seeds have been used as a coffee substitute, in particular during the nineteenth century and in times of scarcity. A. boeticus is found in the wild in a wide range of environments in the Mediterranean and Middle Eastern regions and is able to grow in areas with low and irregular rainfall. It is well-adapted to cultivated and disturbed environments, has indehiscent pods and high yield potential, and is therefore pre-adapted to cultivation and domestication. Swedish coffee is an annual that flowers in spring and produces small (3–6 mm × 3–5 mm) kidney-shaped seeds that can be harvested in summer. The genetic diversity of the species has not been studied, but evidence (wide range of environments, insect pollination) suggests that considerable diversity exists in the species. The genetic resources of Swedish coffee conserved in germplasm banks are very limited, with only 49 accessions conserved in six genebanks. Although no cultivated varieties exist at present and no breeding studies are underway, evidence suggests that limited breeding could result in considerable genetic advances. The cultivation of A. boeticus was very important during the nineteenth century in several countries of Europe, in particular in Sweden, where the cultivation was promoted as a coffee substitute by the monarchy. Several reports exist on its cultivation in several countries of Northern, Central and Southern Europe during the nineteenth century and beginning of the twentieth century. However, its cultivation gradually lost importance and was eventually abandoned. Swedish coffee can be grown in different types of soils as a regular winter or spring legume crop, and thanks to symbiosis with rhizobia may be able to perform well with reduced N fertilization. Several historical accounts report an excellent quality of the coffee substitute prepared with roasted Swedish coffee seeds. However, no investigations have been carried out to study the process of roasting and its influence on the final quality. The information presented here indicates that limited efforts in A. boeticus breeding, cultivation, and industrial processing potentially might result in the recovery of this neglected coffee substitute.
The present study is a review of the archaeobotanical analyses carried out in the last decade at the three ancient Roman port/dock system sites of Pisae, Portus, and Neapolis. Pollen, plant macrofossils (leaf, wood, seed/fruit macroremains) and wood constituting the shipwrecks were considered, and the results, partly unpublished, integrated and interpreted. Waterlogged sediments from these port areas turned out to be particularly suited for archaeobotanical analysis and opened new perspectives in ancient harbour studies. This is the first time that a synthesis of archaeobotanical data from Italian archaeological sites of the same typology is attempted for the Roman period. The disparate sampling strategies and available materials for macrofossil analysis in the various sites - cores in Portus, short sediment sequences in Pisae, and single visible hand-collected macroremains in Neapolis - conditioned the results obtained for these remains, making the comparison among sites a particularly difficult task. The urgency of establishing a common protocol between archaeologists and archaeobotanists is thus emphasized.
The genus Cichorium (Asteraceae) is made up of six species with major geographical presence in Europe and Asia. Cichorium intybus, commonly known as chicory, is well known as a coffee substitute but is also widely used medicinally to treat various ailments ranging from wounds to diabetes. Although this plant has a rich history of use in folklore, many of its constituents have not been explored for their pharmacological potential. Toxicological data on C. intybus is currently limited. This review focuses on the economic and culturally important medicinal uses of C. intybus. Traditional uses, scientific validation, and phytochemical composition are discussed in detail.
The analysis of more than 24000 charcoal fragments from the Bronze Age layers at Emar allow palaeobotanical reconstructions. The charcoal fragments suggest that during the Bronze Age, the riverine gallery forest was more extensive than today and consisted of a greater variety of taxa, including Populus (poplar)/Sa\ix (willow), Tamarix (tamarisk), Alnus (alder) during the Early Bronze Age, Fraxinus (ash) in Early Bronze Age layers, Platanus (plane) and Ulmus (elm). The discovery of Olea (olive) in Early Bronze Age layers, Vitis vinifera (grapevine) within Late Bronze Age strata and Ficus (fig) wood in Early and Late Bronze Age layers may indicate their cultivation. There is little evidence for the potential Pistacia-a/mowi woodland steppe away from the Euphrates, which suggests that it was probably degraded. Coniferous wood, like Cupressus (cypress), Cedrus (cedar) and Pinus brutia/halepensis (Calabrian/ Aleppo pine) were probably imported. It is of note that pine planks used for Early Byzantine coffins were of a different species than the attested Bronze Age pine fragments.
Cattle pastoralism is an important trait of African cultures. Ethnographic studies describe the central role played by domestic cattle within many societies, highlighting its social and ideological value well beyond its mere function as ‘walking larder’. Historical depth of this African legacy has been repeatedly assessed in an archaeological perspective, mostly emphasizing a continental vision. Nevertheless, in-depth site-specific studies, with a few exceptions, are lacking. Despite the long tradition of a multi-disciplinary approach to the analysis of pastoral systems in Africa, rarely do early and middle Holocene archaeological contexts feature in the same area the combination of settlement, ceremonial and rock art features so as to be multi-dimensionally explored: the Messak plateau in the Libyan central Sahara represents an outstanding exception. Known for its rich Pleistocene occupation and abundant Holocene rock art, the region, through our research, has also shown to preserve the material evidence of a complex ritual dated to the Middle Pastoral (6080–5120 BP or 5200– 3800 BC). This was centred on the frequent deposition in stone monuments of disarticulated animal remains, mostly cattle. Animal burials are known also from other African contexts, but regional extent of the phenomenon, state of preservation of monuments, and associated rock art make the Messak case unique. GIS analysis, excavation data, radiocarbon dating, zooarchaeological and isotopic (Sr, C, O) analyses of animal remains, and botanical information are used to explore this highly formalized ritual and the lifeways of a pastoral community in the Holocene Sahara.
An overview of the archaeobotanical analyses carried out on material from archaeological sites of the city of Ferrara (Emilia-Romagna; 10 th – 16 th cent. A.D.), made by the Laboratory of Palynology and Palaeobotany of the University of Modena and Reggio Emilia during over 15 years of research, is presented. The floristic list from seed/fruit analyses is reported, and inter-esting subject matters are tackled concerning both cultivated/cultivable plants (fruits and nuts, vegetables/aromatics/spices/medicinals plants, fibre and oil plants, cereals and pulses, flower and other ornamental plants), and wild plants not obviously used, together with plants of wet grounds, which represent rare and endangered species in the Emilia-Romagna region today.
The Kashmir Himalayan Mountains are endowed with a diverse plant wealth. In this region, the Bakerwals and other migratory herders and shepherds utilize herbal therapies for treatment of their livestock. Information on these plants used for veterinary practices was obtained through interviews of herders, shepherds, and others that work with farm animals during the period of 1997 through 2001. A total of 25 plants within 19 families was identified for treatment of a variety of animal afflictions.
Of all the plants that were used in early medieval times, many were grown in gardens and orchards and contributed to the subsistence of medieval communities. Archaeobotany provides direct evidence of the range of species used either for food or for other purposes. In this contribution, we explore the evidence of garden produce in early medieval Iberia focusing on archaeobotanical data. First, we will analyse the available data, taking into consideration different types of preservation. Second, we will examine the diversity of species, trying to establish the uses and purposes of the taxa identified. Finally, we will discuss results within the better‐known wider European context.
The numerous and widespread Late Glacial and postglacial terrestrial pollen records from southern Europe represent contrasting environments. They are useful for the reconstruction of vegetation dynamics and yield information about trends and rapid climate changes. Forests began to appear at ca. 14. ka BP with important regional differences in the timing and spread of tree populations. All the tree taxa occurring today (apart from anthropogenic introductions) have been found in the region since at least the end of the last glacial period. They expanded from multiple refugia located at different elevations, showing dynamics and timings that deserve further investigation. Probable climatically driven vegetation changes have been recognized at most sites; for a better understanding of this phenomenon, the chronological control of the records must be improved. A weak signal, hardly detectable, is found to correlate with the 8.2. ka BP North Atlantic event. A slow trend towards aridification began in the western and central regions of southern Europe around 8-7.5. ka BP. During the last five or six thousand years, this trend became more evident and widespread. Anthropogenic factors and climate forcing can be considered as dual causes for the degradation of much of the forests in the last few millennia and for the establishment of the present-day vegetation.
Background and aims:
Boraginales are often characterized by a dense cover of stiff, mineralized trichomes, which may act as a first line of defence against herbivores. Recent studies have demonstrated that the widely reported silica and calcium carbonate in plant trichomes may be replaced by calcium phosphate. The present study investigates mineralization patterns in 42 species from nine families of the order Boraginales to investigate detailed patterns of mineralization and the possible presence of a phylogenetic signal in different mineralization patterns.
Methods:
The distribution of biominerals was analysed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) including cryo-SEM and energy-dispersive X-ray analyses with element mapping. The observed distribution of biominerals was plotted onto a published phylogeny of the Boraginales. Three colours were selected to represent the principal elements: Si (red), Ca (green) and P (blue).
Key results:
Calcium carbonate was present in the mineralized trichomes of all 42 species investigated, silica in 30 and calcium phosphate in 25; multiple mineralization with calcium carbonate and silica or calcium phosphate was found in all species, and 13 of the species were mineralized with all three biominerals. Trichome tips featured the most regular pattern - nearly all were exclusively mineralized with either silica or calcium phosphate. Biomineralization of the trichome shafts and bases was found to be more variable between species. However, the trichome bases were also frequently mineralized with calcium phosphate or silica, indicating that not only the tip is under functional constraints requiring specific patterns of chemical heterogeneity. The complete absence of either silica or phosphate may be an additional feature with systematic relevance.
Conclusions:
This study demonstrates that complex, site-specific and differential biomineralization is widespread across the order Boraginales. Calcium phosphate, only recently first reported as a structural plant biomineral, is common and appears to be functionally analogous to silica. A comparison with the phylogeny of Boraginales additionally reveals striking phylogenetic patterns. Most families show characteristic patterns of biomineralization, such as the virtual absence of calcium phosphate in Cordiaceae and Boraginaceae, the triple biomineralization of Heliotropiaceae and Ehretiaceae, or the absence of silica in Namaceae and Codonaceae. The complex chemical and phylogenetic patterns indicate that trichome evolution and functionalities are anything but simple and follow complex functional and phylogenetic constraints.
Pollen has been studied from cesspits and other archaeological structures containing human faecal remains from different sites in northern Belgium, dating from the 12th to the 17th century. The results show that a large amount of information can be obtained by analysing pollen from such archaeological features. In addition, it is demonstrated that this information is largely complementary to the results obtained by the analysis of botanical macro-remains. The consumption of different food plants like herbs, spices and leafy vegetables, but also the use of honey, pharmaceutical plant use, and the use of peat fuel is reflected in the pollen assemblages from the studied archaeological structures. Most of this information cannot be obtained through the analysis of botanical macro-remains.
Traditional medicine in North-West of Turkey (Bilecik province) was studied during a three-month field study by interviewing local informants from several districts. 64 plant samples belonging to 33 families were recorded to be used in the treatment of 26 different diseases mainly for gastrointestinal disorders (18%), respiratory disorders (11%), rheumatism (15%) and skin disorders (8%). Uses of Cionura erecta Echium plantagineum Neslia apiculata Stachys thirkei Oxalis articulata Consolida regalis subsp. paniculata and Solanum alatum in traditional medicine have been reported for the first time herein. The plant species used to treat infections and skin disorders were tested for antimicrobial activity Petroleum ether and ethanol extracts were prepared from the aerial parts of Hedera helix Lavandula stoechas subsp cariensis Plantago major Teucrium chamaedrys subsp chamaedrys and Teucrium polium and tested in vitro against 7 bacterial and one fungal strains using microbroth dilution technique according to Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI). The results indicate that the ethanolic extracts of L. stoechas subsp. cariensis and P. major have shown the strongest activity against Staphylococcus aureus with a MIC value of 19.52 mug/ml. The petroleum ether extracts of T polium and T chamaedrys subsp. chamaedrys have exhibited moderate activity against Klebsiella pneumoniae (MIC: 156.2 mug/ml). None of the extracts tested have shown antifungal activity against C albicans.
The aims of present study were to analysis of chemical compositions and evaluate anti-Candida activity of Dittrichia gravolence essential oil. The composition of the hydrodistilled essential oil from aerial parts of D. graveolens (L.) Greuter were grown in Iran investigated by gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy (GC/ MS). The major components, among the identified 22, were 1,8 Cineol (54.89%), P-Cymen (16.2%), [beta]-pinene (6.94%) and Borneol (5.44%). Anti-Candida activity of the volatile oil of the aerial parts of D. gravolence against different isolates of Candida albicans was studiedin vitro. Anti-Candida activity was done using serial dilutions of volatile oil in Sabouraud’s dextrose agar (SDA). Agar well diffusion methods was used for detection minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC). MIC for 10 isolates of tested yeasts was 30.675 mg/ml.
Key words: Dittrichia graveolens, essential oil, 1,8 Cineol, Candida albicans.
The aim of the study was to survey the chemical composition, antimicrobial and antioxi-dant activities of Dittrichia graveolens essential oil in in vitro conditions. GC-FID and GC-MS analyses were performed to evaluate the chemical composition of essential oil. The anti-microbial activity against different kinds of microorganisms was determined by microbroth dilution assay. The antioxidant activity was evaluated by DPPH free radical scavenging system. Studies of chemical composition of essential oil revealed the presence of borneol (38.2%) and bornyl acetate (14.9%) as major constituents. Essential oil showed strong an-timicrobial activity against Enterococcus faecalis isolates and Bacillus cereus. Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli are less sensitive to the oil. The strong antimicrobial activity of oil against clinical isolates of bacteria was demonstrated. In addition, D. graveolens oil notably reduced the concentration of DPPH free radical with higher efficacy than that of trolox at 70 min.
The interpretation of past environment changes in coastal marshes, river mouths and drainage channels connecting fresh to salt water bodies, is a difficult task since several factors must be considered such as the variable influence of climate, sea level changes, coastline variations and changes in the river discharge. It is even more difficult if this attempt is carried out in basins and channels of an ancient harbour, used for centuries, connected to the sea and to a river. This is the case of the ancient harbour of Rome, located in the Tiber delta area, which had a prominent role during the imperial age in the Mediterranean. A town named Portus arose in the vicinity and, although sacked many times by Barbarians, was still very important during medieval times. The Romans managed the harbour, the city and the surroundings and the impact on the environment must have been very strong.
Diverse palynomorphs and phytoliths recovered from coprolites of ovi-caprids (sheep, goat) collected from Yang-Hai Tomb at Xinjiang Province, China, have been used to elucidate the dietary pattern of ancient livestock and to reconstruct the paleovegetation and paleoclimate of this part of northwest China ca. 2500 14C yr BP. Palynological and phytolith data suggest that a rich dry temperate vegetation prevailed in the area during the said period. Climatic conditions and grassland vegetation type of the area are explored using phytolith indices.
SUMMARY - Annual medics, grown as regenerating pasture in the agro-pastoral Mediterranean systems or ley- farming systems, are an important feed resource not only as green forage during the growing season but also in summer as stubbles and pods. This paper describes the differences between and within species of annual medics in terms of chemical composition, digestibility, intake, palatability, morphology, anatomy and antinutritional factors content for both forage and pods. It also reviews most of the techniques used in the past for the evaluations of medics for forage quality, pointing out that most of these studies have been conducted comparing materials with different earliness on the basis of a single stage of sampling. Some methodological remedies are thus proposed. Several key parameters have been also individuated to be used for the identification of promising genotypes.
Pollen data from three off-site records and twenty-six on-site (archaeological) sites are reviewed to investigate the development of cultural landscapes through the history of the olive, walnut and chestnut trees in the Italian peninsula from the Late Glacial to late Holocene. The spread of these trees, which have been gathered or cultivated since ancient times, though not marked by high values in pollen diagrams, is an important indicator of increasing human activity and anthropization in the Mediterranean area.
Pollen analyses of 13 archaeological sites in the Wadi Teshuinat area, in southwestern Fezzan, Libya, were synthesised to explore the po-tential contribution of palynological investigation to archaeological research in this area. During the Holocene, the sites were occupied by pre-Pastoral (hunteregatherers) and Pastoral (pastoralists) cultures. Different pollen stratigraphies and floras characterised the diverse sites and the relevant cultural phases. Pollen data were reported by discussing the sites separately, and by combining them to interpret the regional data set. Emphasis was made on the anthropogenic pollen indicators and grasses, including large grass pollen grains (>40 mm), which were considered evidence of plant transport into the site. These were ethnobotanical markers, human-made evidence of plant harvesting by hunteregatherers, or of animal breeding by pastoralists. The disappearance of some wild cereals was also observed, consistent with increasing climate dryness and land exploitation. Macroremains were used as a parallel tool to better understand plant exploitation in the region.
High-risk pyrrolizidine alkaloid (PA)-containing plants in North America have been described as well as their toxicity and subsequent pathology. The current treatments and strategies have also been discussed in order to avoid the losses to PA poisoning. Tansy ragwort is a common western European plant that is unpalatable and is not eaten by livestock. However, grazing animals gets poisoned when the plants or seeds contaminate the feeds as the animals cannot easily differentiate the early rosette from grasses and clovers, or when other forages are unavailable. On the other hand, the genera Echium and Heliotropium species are poison to Australian livestock. According to Australian studies, Echium PAs contaminate honey while poisoning the wildlife. However, when it comes to its various treatments or diet supplements, none of them is effective on treating PA intoxication in livestock.
Four plant species, Hordeum vulgare, Oryza sativa, Panax quinquefolium and Nicotiana tabacum, grown as cell suspension cultures, were used for the biotransformation of an anticancer compound, ingenol-3-angelate (1). Three compounds (1a–1c) were detected predominantly in the cultured medium and their structures were determined as 16-hydroxy-ingenol-3-angelate (1a), ingenol (1b) and ingenol-5-angelate (1c), based on MS and NMR spectroscopic evidence. 16-Hydroxy-ingenol-3-angelate (1a) was the only compound produced by H. vulgare cell cultures except that, at high substrate concentration (266 mg L−1), 1c was produced with a low yield both in the medium and within cells. In contrast, compounds 1a and 1b were produced in different yields and proportions in the other three cell cultures. The effect of substrate concentration, addition and incubation time on the production of 1a by H. vulgare cell cultures was investigated, and compounds 1a and 1b were assayed to be active in inhibiting the growth and inducing a bipolar morphology of MM96L melanoma cells.