The plant landscape of the imperial harbour of Rome

This study applies detailed pollen, microcharcoal, and ostracod analyses together with radiocarbon dating to the sediments recovered from two cores drilled in the area of the Claudius harbour. The objective of the drillings was to identify morphological and environmental features of the Tiber delta dating back to the Roman period, and to characterize the landscape of the harbour.

The research concerns the Tiber delta area, about 3 km far from the present seacoast, where the remains of the ancient harbour of Rome are located. In 42 AD, Claudius started the construction of the harbour and Nero completed it in 64 AD. Then, the emperor Trajan went on to add a hexagonal basin to the former structure, which had gradually silted up. The imperial harbour was connected to the Tiber River and ultimately to the city of Rome through the Trajan channel. During the imperial period, most of the supplies imported from the Mediterranean provinces reached the city of Rome through Portus.