A pedo-geomorphological view on land use and its potential in the surroundings of the ancient Hispano-Roman city Munigua (Seville, SW Spain)
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Published:2022-08-03
Issue:2
Volume:71
Page:123-143
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ISSN:2199-9090
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Container-title:E&G Quaternary Science Journal
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language:en
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Short-container-title:E&G Quaternary Sci. J.
Author:
Kirchner AndréORCID, Herrmann Nico, Matras Paul, Müller Iris, Meister JuliaORCID, Schattner Thomas G.
Abstract
Abstract. This study investigates the surroundings of Munigua (municipium
Flavium Muniguense), a small Roman town in the ancient province of Hispania
Baetica (SW Spain). The city's economy was based primarily on copper and
iron mining, which brought financial prosperity to its citizens. Local
production of agricultural goods is thought to have been of little
importance, as the regional soil conditions do not seem to be suitable for
extensive agriculture. To evaluate the recent soil agro-potential and to find evidence for
prehistoric and historic land use in the surroundings of Munigua, we applied a pedo-geomorphological approach based on the physico-chemical analysis of 14 representative soil and sediment exposures. Selected samples were analyzed for bulk chemistry, texture and phytoliths. The chronostratigraphy of the sequences was based on radiocarbon dating of charcoal samples. The site evaluation of the present-day soil agro-potential was carried out according to standard procedures and included evaluation of potential rootability, available water-storage capacity and nutrient budget within the uppermost 1 m. The results show that moderate to very good soil agro-potential prevails in
the granitic and floodplain areas surrounding Munigua. Clearly, recent soil
agro-potential in these areas allows the production of basic agricultural
goods, and similar limited agricultural use should also have been possible in ancient times. In contrast, weak to very weak present-day soil
agro-potential prevails in the metamorphic landscape due to the occurrence
of shallow and sandy to stony soils. In addition, the study provides pedo-geomorphological evidence for
prehistoric and historic land use in pre-Roman, Roman and post-Roman times.
Catenary soil mapping in the vicinity of a Roman house complex reveals
multi-layered colluvial deposits. They document phases of hillslope erosion
mainly triggered by human land use between 4063 ± 82 and 3796 ± 76 cal BP, around 2601 ± 115 cal BP, and between 1424 ± 96 and
421 ± 88 cal BP. Moreover, geochemical and phytolith analyses of a
Roman hortic Anthrosol indicate the local cultivation of agricultural
products that contributed to the food supply of Munigua. Overall, the evidence of Roman agricultural use in the Munigua area
indicates that the city's economy was by no means focused solely on mining.
The production of basic agricultural products was also part of Munigua's
economic portfolio. Our geoarcheological study thus supports the
archeological concept of economically diversified Roman cities in the
province of Baetica and in Hispania.
Publisher
Copernicus GmbH
Subject
Archeology,Stratigraphy,Paleontology,Geology,Archeology
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