Archeobotanical investigations at the archaeological area of Pyrgos - Mavrorach, Cyprus

The archaeobotany research began in 2004. Stratigraphical and paleocarpology analyses on vegetable macroremains taken in different layers have been examined in order to reconstruct the sequence and nature of the ancient agricultural economy during the centuries of settlement and to compare the results with the neighbouring sites coming ones. Since 2004 integrated sedimentology and palinology programs (chemistry and physics analyses, macroremains and pollen analyses) have been regularly carried on to investigate the evolution and changing of the landscape and the exploitation of the natural resources. The aim of the paleobotanical field work investigation is to recover the charred plant remains from the archaeological soil samples, using different systems and dry-sieving. Mud bricks and floor fragments has been another important source of information as provides a large number of plant impressions The results of sedimentological and pollen analyses beside the charred seeds, fruit stones and plant impression revealed the main agricultural cultivation of the farming communities who settled in that area around the 2000 B.C.. Among the products cultivated at Pyrgos/Mavroraki there are Olea europea L. ssp., Coriandrum sativum L., Triticum dicoccun, Triticum monococcum, Triticum durum, Vicia ervilia (L.) WILLD., Vicia faba L., Lens culinaris, Lens subsp. orientalis, Cicer arietinum, Cicer bijugum, Pisum sativum, Linum usitatissimum L., Hordeum spp. and three different types of Vitis ssp. Moreover the archaeobotanical investigations produced macroremains (drupe) of Laurus ssp. and (berries) of Myrtus ssp.. The characterisation of several vegetal macroremains recovered in the stratigraphic units (S.U.s) H10L3, H6L3, H6L5, G8L1 and I9L2, may supply detailed information on the evolution of both the natural and agricultural vegetation in this territory. These analyses, therefore, also indicate the change in vegetation during the course of human occupation.