University of Reading, England

28-30 March 2014

Riparia Project Researchers involved in the next conference TRAC:

Abstracts:



Roman Intervention in a Lacustrine Environment: The Case of Fuente De Piedra Lagoon.

Lázaro Lagóstena, M. Mar Castro, Ángel Bastos

Riparia as environmental concept is applied to human's relationship with the riverbanks and shorelines spaces from historic times. The environmental characteristics of these transitional spaces generate a certain socio-natural systems. Wetlands are representative of Riparia, and are subject to different perceptions, ranging from the occupation and settlement of the territory, to their production or tax function, in relation to the possibilities of communication, to their perception as part of the marginal and not ordered landscape, or under the consideration to their importance as cultural, geographical and political boundary limits. Our research group has undertaken a project that aims to study the territorial articulation of these spaces in the area of the Hispania Vlterior Baetica province. Fuente de Piedra Lagoon is the most important wetlands of Andalusia (Spain), and presents historical elements that allow to characterize this entity as an essential structure of the territory that has been susceptible of exploitation in Roman times. The analysis of its settlement, the function of this space as confinium of the civic communities Urgapa and Singilia Barba, the economic exploitation aimed at the production of salt, or the analysis of the communication paths, has allowed us to understand the role of this area in Roman times.

                                                                                                                                                               

Characterization of Exploitation of Riparian Vegetation in the Vlterior-Baetica Roman Province.

Daniel J. Martín-Arroyo, 

Phd of Ancient History. Universidad de Cádiz (Spain) Seminario Agustín de Horozco

J. Antonio Bocanegra,

Phd of  Biology. Medio Ambitente, Ayto. Puerto Real (Spain). Seminario Agustín de Horozco.

Pedro Trapero.

Assistant Scholar. Universidad de Cádiz (Spain).Seminario Agustín de Horozco.

Our Riparia project examines the interaction between society and the environment in the riparian settings of the Roman world, especially in the Vlterior-Baetica. In this case we propose the study of the vegetal cover in the riparian environments from the perspective of economic utilization. The interest that could arouse certain riparian wild plants or crops, has gone unnoticed to current researchers compared to other activities (wine and olive oil production or fish salting). Although the usage of such plants could leave an associated archaeological record, to address this lack of archaeological data collection we proceed to compilation of classic literary testimonies, ethnological information and toponymy. On the one hand, it is intended to interest the scientific community about the material forms, tools and structures, as consequence of the exploitation of the riparian vegetation. On the other hand, a first classification of riparian areas is proposed according to their natural characteristics and possible models of anthropization. As an example of extensive farming systems we identified those associated with livestock and network linked by glens (cattle trails). We include the silviculture of the species of rushes (genus Iuncus and others) among the intensive exploitation systems, based by demand for canopies, sail or other articles, reflected in the construction of farmhouses and villae.