Plants, Wet Environments and Agrarian Landscape in the Roman Period. An Integrated Archaeological and Palynological Study at Rivanazzano Terme (Northern Italy)

This integrated archaeological and palynological study of the site of Cascina Isola Felice at Rivanazzano Terme (Staffora Valley, northern Italy) provides a case study illustrating the potential of interdisciplinary approaches to reconstruct complex interactions between plants, wet environments and agrarian practices from the Roman period to Late Antiquity. Palynological analyses were carried out on sediment samples from an artificial water basin structure and from adjacent stratigraphic contexts, complemented by modern pollen rain data. The results indicate an open agrarian landscape dominated by herbaceous communities, with limited woodland cover and a persistent presence of wet environments. Cereal cultivation emerges as a major component of the local agrarian system, accompanied by evidence for textile plants, namely hemp, and in Late Antiquity, flax, suggesting fibre processing activities such as retting within the basin. Differences between the basin and surrounding areas highlight both local activity-related pollen inputs and regional environmental signals. Diachronic patterns point to a general continuity of the agrarian landscape, accompanied by stronger evidence of agricultural practices during Late Antiquity. By integrating archaeological and palynological evidence, the Rivanazzano study demonstrates how botanical data can be used to reconstruct site function, identify plant-processing activities, and evaluate the ecological role of water-related infrastructures in Roman rural landscapes.