Vol. 3 No. 13 (2025)
Articles

The vegetation of the Roman province of Pannonia based on wood charcoal, pollen, anthracological and carpological studies (1st–5th century AD)

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  • Máté Róbert Merkl,
  • Gábor Csüllög,
  • Gabriella Darabos,
  • Ilona Pál,
  • Maria Hajnalova,
  • Enikő Katalin Magyari
Máté Róbert Merkl
Department of Environmental and Landscape Geography, ELTE Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest; Kuny Domokos Museum, Tata, Hungary
Gábor Csüllög
Department of Environmental and Landscape Geography, ELTE Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, Hungary
Gabriella Darabos
Department of Environmental and Landscape Geography, ELTE Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, Hungary
Ilona Pál
Department of Environmental and Landscape Geography, ELTE Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, Hungary
Maria Hajnalova
Department of Archaeology, Constantine the Philosopher University in Nitra, Nitra, Slovakia
Enikő Katalin Magyari
Department of Environmental and Landscape Geography, ELTE Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest; 4MTA–MTM–ELTE Research Group for Palaentology, Budapest, Hungary
DOI: https://doi.org/10.17204/dissarch.2025.563

Published 2026-01-30

Keywords

  • Roman period,
  • Pannonia,
  • Pollen analysis,
  • Carpology,
  • Anthracology

How to Cite

Merkl, M. R., Csüllög, G., Darabos, G., Pál, I., Hajnalova, M., & Magyari, E. K. (2026). The vegetation of the Roman province of Pannonia based on wood charcoal, pollen, anthracological and carpological studies (1st–5th century AD). Dissertationes Archaeologicae, 3(13), 563–610. https://doi.org/10.17204/dissarch.2025.563

Abstract

The Roman Empire ruled Pannonia—largely corresponding to today’s Transdanubia in Hungary—for nearly 500 years. This study reconstructs Roman-era vegetation and land use around Lake Balaton using pollen analysis, carpology, and anthracology. Pollen-based reconstruction from the sediment of Lake Balaton, with a >100 km source radius, reveals intensive agriculture during the Roman period (1st–5th century AD), supported by high LUP index values (60–100). Oak (Quercus sp.) forests declined significantly from the Celtic period (5th century BC–1st century AD) onward, with further loss under Roman rule. Pollen of cereals and anthropogenic indicators (Secale cereale, Artemisia sp., Chenopodiaceae) increased markedly.

Comparative data from five Roman sites (farmsteads, towns, villa granary) align with these trends. Anthracological results reveal oak as the dominant wood (55–100%), though urban sites like Gorsium/Tác used more diverse species, including imported spruce (Picea abies) and fir (Abies alba), while rural vicus sites relied solely on local species. Charcoal from shrubs (e.g., Frangula alnus, Sorbus sp.) suggests nearby open forests.

Carpological finds at Szabadbattyán and Tác were dominated by wheat (Triticum aestivum) and rye (Secale cereale), while vicus sites showed more emmer (Triticum dicoccum), spelt (Triticum spelta), and millet (Panicum miliaceum), indicating indigenous traditions. Evidence of hemp cultivation (Cannabis sativa) is strong in both pollen and macro-remains. Weed types suggest autumn and spring sowing, reflecting advanced Roman farming. Modern vegetation and soil maps corroborate these reconstructions.

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