Arborea and beyond: archaeobotanical data and digital tools for the enhancement of tangible cultural heritage

This paper presents ARBOREA, a FAIR-compliant digital database developed within CHANGES – Spoke 8 to centralize and enhance archaeobotanical data from central Italy. Framing plant macro-remains as tangible cultural heritage, the project combines new analyses, high-resolution digital documentation, and the standardization of legacy data into a geo-referenced, interoperable platform. ARBOREA supports multi-scalar research, data preservation, and public engagement, promoting the integration of biological evidence into cultural heritage studies through digital innovation.