A Franco-Italian investigation of funerary rituals in the Roman world, “les rites et la mort à Pompéi”, the plant part: a preliminary report

Matterne, Véronique; Derreumaux, Marie

doi:10.1007/s00334-007-0112-z

Cited by 27 publications

(8 citation statements)

References 3 publications

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“…Plinius, Historia Naturalis XVI; Vergilius, Aeneis, III; Horatius, Carmina IV, 6), paintings (Caneva & Bohuny 2003) and fossil records from the Roman age reveal the diffusion of cypress for several uses as: timber for beams (Liphschitz & Lev‐Yadun 1989; Giachi et al . 2003), medicinal treatments (Ciaraldi 2000), ritual funerary offerings (Matterne & Derreumaux 2008), or ornamental trees in gardens and villas. No other forest tree has been subjected to such a high level of appreciation by humans in the Mediterranean region.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Is Cupressus sempervirens native in Italy? An answer from genetic and palaeobotanical data

Bagnoli¹,

Vendramin

Buonamici

et al. 2009

Molecular Ecology

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This study represents the first large-scale analysis using nuclear molecular markers to assess genetic diversity and structure of Cupressus sempervirens L.. Genetic and fossil data were combined to infer the possible role of human activity and evolutionary history in shaping the diversity of cypress populations. We analysed 30 populations with six polymorphic nuclear microsatellite markers. Dramatic reductions in heterozygosity and allelic richness were observed from east to west across the species range. Structure analysis assigned individuals to two main groups separating central Mediterranean and eastern populations. The two main groups could be further divided into five subgroups which showed the following geographical distributions: Turkey with the Greek islands Rhodes and Samos, Greece (Crete), Southern Italy, Northern Italy, Tunisia with Central Italy. This pattern of genetic structure is also supported by SAMOVA and Barrier analyses. Palaeobotanical data indicated that Cupressus was present in Italy in the Pliocene, Pleistocene and Holocene. Furthermore, our molecular survey showed that Italian cypress populations experienced bottlenecks that resulted in reduced genetic diversity and allelic richness and greater genetic differentiation. Recent colonization or introduction may also have influenced levels of diversity detected in the Italian populations, as most individuals found in this range today have multilocus genotypes that are also present in the eastern range of the species. The data reveal a new interpretation of the history of cypress distribution characterized by ancient eastern populations (Turkey and Greek islands) and a mosaic of recently introduced trees and remnants of ancient, depauperate populations in the central Mediterranean range.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Is Cupressus sempervirens native in Italy? An answer from genetic and palaeobotanical data

Bagnoli¹,

Vendramin

Buonamici

et al. 2009

Molecular Ecology

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“…In Pompeii, the presence of cones and seeds was interpreted as proof of part of funerary rituals (Matterne and Derreumaux, 2008;Robinson, 2002). On the contrary, the link between this tree and Dis, the Roman god of the underworld and death, was well described by Pliny (Naturalis Historia XVI, 139-141, in Conte and Ranucchi, 1982).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In Pompeii, the presence of cones and seeds interpreted as a part of funerary rituals was attested at the necropolis of Porta Nocera (Matterne and Derreumaux, 2008) and in the Garden of Room 11 of the Amarantus house (Robinson, 2002).…”

Section: Analysis Of Literature Datamentioning

confidence: 99%

The late Holocene history of cypress (Cupressus sempervirens L.) in the Italian peninsula: New perspectives from archaeobotanical data

2019

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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.

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“…Archaeological remains of burnt offerings have increasingly been identified in Classical period construction, burial and domestic contexts, where such activities were linked to pleasing the gods and plant sacrifice was often linked to ideas around good luck and fecundity (Hristova 2015;Matterne and Derreumaux 2008;Megaloudi 2005;Robinson 2002;Rovira and Chabal 2008). At Büklükale such an interpretation is plausible given the presence of so many burnt foods and the unusual preservation of grape seeds, although the deposits pre-date surviving texts relating to such practices in Anatolia by several centuries.…”

Section: Burnt Offerings?mentioning

confidence: 99%

Ceremonial plant consumption at Middle Bronze Age Büklükale, Kırıkkale Province, central Turkey

Fairbairn

Wright

Weeden

et al. 2018

Veget Hist Archaeobot

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A shaft-like room at the Middle Bronze Age site of Büklükale in central Turkey preserved a rich archaeobotanical assemblage of charred and mineralised plant remains, dominated by fruits, spices and nuts mixed with probable bread and wood charcoals. The remains were recovered in association with numerous ceramic vessels, jewellery, and exotic artefacts. We combine identification and analysis of the seeds and wood charcoals contained in this deposit with studies of Old Assyrian and Hittite textual records to investigate the circumstances of the assemblage's formation and its significance for further understanding trade and plant consumption in Bronze Age Anatolia. We present the earliest archaeobotanical example in the region of rare and exotic plant species being consumed in the context of one or more social gatherings, including those possibly linked to ceremonial or ritual events. This offers new insights into the role of plants in the economic and social life of the southwest Asian Bronze Age, as well as the role of commensality and feasting in early states.

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A Franco-Italian investigation of funerary rituals in the Roman world, “les rites et la mort à Pompéi”, the plant part: a preliminary report

Cited by 27 publications

References 3 publications

Is Cupressus sempervirens native in Italy? An answer from genetic and palaeobotanical data

Is Cupressus sempervirens native in Italy? An answer from genetic and palaeobotanical data

The late Holocene history of cypress (Cupressus sempervirens L.) in the Italian peninsula: New perspectives from archaeobotanical data

Ceremonial plant consumption at Middle Bronze Age Büklükale, Kırıkkale Province, central Turkey

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