Reconstructing the human-environment relationship overtime at the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Butrint: a novel archaeobotanical study in Albania

Albania, overlooking the Vivari Channel and facing the Greek island of Corfu. Although object of archaeological investigations since 1928, Butrint has seen limited exploration from an archaeobotanical perspective (1). This study is the natural prosecution of the previous work representing a comprehensive diachronic archaeobotanical investigation of Butrint plant remains, aiming to reconstruct human-environment relationships at this significant archaeological site. Abundant plant macro-remains were collected in 2022 and 2023 from diverse contexts whose dating spans from the Archaic to the Venetian period. Preliminary results concern materials from the Western Defences (Middle Ages, ca. 9th - 10th century AD) and the Roman Forum (3rd century BC – 7th century AD). In the former, plant remains are mainly preserved by charring. The carpological assemblages are predominantly composed of cereals (Triticum monococcum L., T. turgidum subsp. dicoccon (Schrank ex Schübl.) Thell., T. aestivum/durum) (Fig. 1) and pulses (including Vicia lens (L.) Coss. & Germ., Lathyrus oleraceus Lam., Lathyrus sp.). Anthracological remains from the same context include abundant fragments of deciduous oaks (Quercus sect. robur; Fig. 2), Rhamnus/Phillyrea, olive (Olea europaea L.), and maple (Acer sp.). In contrast, the Roman Forum area is characterized by abundant waterlogged remains of grapevine (Vitis vinifera L.), elderberry (Sambucus nigra L.), and blackberry (Rubus fruticosus L.). This research aims to address a significant gap in the environmental reconstruction of the site and contribute to broader discussions on human-environment interactions at the site of Butrint in the framework of the Mediterranean. The findings are expected to provide insights into the adaptive strategies, subsistence patterns, and agricultural evolution of the diverse communities that inhabited the site over the centuries, enhancing our understanding of the complex interplay between human societies and their environments.