Sediments that settle on the ocean floor can provide clues about the past by indicating the conditions of the marine environment. They can also describe the past based on fragments washed from terrestrial runoff and the flora and fauna preserved in the past. Scientists utilize this technique by exploring the seabed and bringing the cores above the surface for further laboratory analysis.
Charting the Roman Colonization
Researchers from the University of Naples Federico II in Italy took exploration cruises on the Gulf of Saint Eufemia located on the west coast of Calabria, taking with them some cores recovered from the ocean floor.
Knowledge of the size of the basin where the cores were taken plays an important role in identifying the spatial distribution where sediments and inclusions like pollen and spores have been gathered. Larger basins tend to capture material on land from hundreds of meters away and provide data about the condition of regional vegetation. On the other hand, small basins tend to gather materials from close vicinity and offer a localized view of plant communities.
Through palynology, or the study of the pollen grains and spores in living and fossil form, the researchers charted the colonization of the Greeks and Romans in Italy during the past 5,000 years. This was made possible by extracting sediments containing up to 12,000 grains per gram. After analyzing the materials under a microscope, the team identified 72 species. Data gathered from the analysis revealed the different phases of vegetation in the area: dense forest cover, forest decline and drought, and deforestation with intensive farming.
The vegetation pattern in the first phase can be related to the communities trying to find shelter in the dense forest. They may have started to realize the effects of climate change by this time. The second phase is connected to the rise of the Greek and Roman populations in the region, supported by the evidence of declining forest cover. There was also a high abundance of microcharcoal in the analyzed sediments during this phase, indicating the widespread cooking and heating activities. In the final phase, the increased sedimentation rates mean widespread deforestation that led to the destabilization of soil and increased water runoff.
The experts also note that the final phase coincides with the fall of the Western Roman Empire in the region, characterized by a sudden decline in land management, indicating ruralization.
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Useful Applications of Palynology
Palynology is considered one of the most effective approaches to reconstructing the past environment. This is because the hard outer shells of pollen called exines are unique in each species and can survive for thousands of years. Because of this, scientists are allowed to identify as many plants as possible that existed in the past.
Aside from its significance in historical studies, palynology is also applied in the oil industry involving the investigation of sequences of rocks for potential oil and gas exploration. Pollens recovered from the intestine of early humans and artifacts in their grave sites provide clues into their diets and hunting practices. Moreover, palynology can also be useful in studying honey to identify the source plants used by the bees.
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