Abstract
A rich variety of archaeological, literary and artistic testimonies throughout the cultures of the Mediterranean reminds us of the material and symbolic value of wine over the centuries. In recent decades the study of wine in ancient society and economy has become a highly dynamic and interdisciplinary field. This burgeoning field relies upon the introduction of new scientific approaches, which we would like to focus on in the project here proposed. Our methodological approach will be multidisciplinary, involving archaeologists and archaeobotanists as well as plant geneticists, and drawing upon a combination of sources. We will use literary and iconographic sources, archaeological analyses of material culture alongside scientific analyses, such as archaeobotanical evaluations of grape seeds and vine wood, genetic analyses of ancient DNA extracted from grape seeds aiming to identify ancient varieties of vine, chemical analyses on wine residue in the winemaking spaces and tools found in archaeological excavations. The project will focus on the ancient North Adriatic region, with a diachronic perspective, from 7th century BCE (the period in which the first domestic grape seeds are documented in the area) to Late antiquity (4th-5th centuries AD), in order to highlight evolutions and transformations in vine-growing and winemaking. The region is very interesting for many reasons: first, it has different "terroirs" between the lagoon, the plains and the hills and therefore different grape varieties and wines to compare are to be expected; second, it has never been studied from this point of view; third, it is still very famous for its wines, such as Sangiovese, Trebbiano, Amarone, Prosecco, Ribolla; fourth, it offers many interesting archaeological sites for research: for example two sites studied by the Verona Unit (Aquileia -UD- and Negrar near Verona) and two others by the Bologna Unit and in particular by the Bioarchaeology Research Center “ArcheoLaBio” (Monte Bibele -BO- and Classe near Ravenna). The project will yield the following resources, which we believe will be of great scholarly, cultural, and economic value: 1. a specialised website collecting and disseminating the results of the research on vine-growing and the winemaking in the North Adriatic region and in particular, a. the literary and iconographic data; b. significant archaeological sites and contexts between the Iron Age and Late Antiquity; c. the history of viticulture; d. tools and methods; e. genetic information recovered from ancient seeds and comparison to available genetic information on current varieties from this region; 2. publications; 3. an international conference. The project may thereby provide current wine producers and the whole wine industry with a deeper knowledge of ancient local viticulture practices and its traditions, ultimately adding historical value to present day cultivars.
Results achieved
Research focus of the Bologna Unit: bibliographic documentation and archaeobotanical research The University of Bologna Unit contributed to the project through archaeological and archaeobotanical research, with particular attention to the protohistoric and pre-Roman phases of viticulture in the North Adriatic region. Its work focused on the collection, contextualization, and interpretation of archaeological and archaeobotanical evidence related to grapevine exploitation, early viticultural practices, and the development of wine production before the Roman period. The Bologna Unit carried out a systematic review of archaeological documentation concerning the Iron Age and pre-Roman contexts. This activity made it possible to frame evidence for viticulture and wine production within a broader protohistoric perspective, taking into account the cultural and territorial complexity of the North Adriatic area. Archaeobotanical records of vine remains were mapped across different sites and classified in relation to their cultural background, including Etruscan, Celtic, and Rhaetian contexts. Viticulture plays a central role in the symbolic expressions of these cultures. The research did not limit itself to the identification of grapevine remains but also considered the archaeological contexts in which they were found. Sites and structures were classified according to their function, including residential areas, sacred or sanctuary contexts, and necropolises. This allowed the Bologna Unit to assess the role of grapevine remains within different social, economic, and ritual settings, contributing to a more nuanced interpretation of protohistoric viticulture. The focus of archaeobotanical research The archaeobotanical research of the University of Bologna covered all the chronologies included in the project, from the Iron Age to the Late Antiquity, always in the upper Adriatic area. A central result of the Bologna Unit was the selection, preparation, and classification of archaeological grape seeds suitable for morphometric analysis. Samples, including those from the site of Spina, were screened in order to identify materials appropriate for further study. This work led to the creation of a classified corpus of grape seeds from archaeological contexts, providing a solid basis for the reconstruction of ancient grapevine exploitation. Many sites were examined (Monte Bibele, Marzabotto, Oppeano, Classe), but in many contexts no grape seeds suitable for morphometric analyses were found. Other institutions (University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Sabap Bologna, G. Nicoli Agriculture and Environment Centre) have provided other grape seeds suitable for analysis, to broaden the research as much as possible in the upper Adriatic area. The Bologna Unit produced a morphometric dataset based on standardized measurements of grape seeds. These data were statistically processed and integrated with archaeological and chronological information. The analysis made it possible to distinguish where preservation allowed, between cultivated and wild morphotypes. This represents an important result for understanding processes of grapevine domestication, selection, and the possible emergence of viticultural strategies in the protohistoric period. The morphometric dataset was strengthened through comparison with modern grape varieties, including reference material provided by CREA Conegliano. This comparative approach allowed the archaeological evidence to be assessed against a broader biological and morphological framework, contributing to the study of continuity, variation, and biodiversity between ancient and modern grapevines. Ancient DNA analysis The Bologna Unit also contributed to the biomolecular component of the project through collaboration with the University of Verona and the “ArcheoLaBio” Bioarchaeology Research Centre of the University of Bologna. In this framework, archaeological grape seeds were selected for ancient DNA extraction and sequencing. The contribution of the Bologna Unit was particularly important in the selection, contextualization, and archaeobotanical assessment of the samples used for genetic analyses. One of the most significant results was the integration between morphometric and genetic approaches. The combination of grape seed morphology, archaeological context, and ancient DNA data improved the analytical resolution of the project. This integrated approach made it possible to investigate ancient grapevine diversity from both a morphological and genetic perspective, offering new insights into domestication, cultivar identification, and regional connectivity. The chronologies examined are in fact key moments in the development of viticulture in the region, taking into account the commercial development and contacts between different cultures that developed in north-eastern Italy. Scientific and methodological impact The work of the Bologna Unit produced a robust methodological framework for the study of protohistoric viticulture. By combining archaeological documentation, archaeobotanical classification, morphometric analysis, and support to DNA-based research, the Unit contributed to the development of an interdisciplinary model applicable to other archaeological contexts. This represents a major scientific result of the project, especially for the study of early viticulture and plant domestication in northern Italy. This project could be further expanded to other Italian regions, allowing for a more in-depth study of cultural contacts, for example along the Adriatic coast or in Tyrrhenian Italy. Main outcome Overall, the Bologna Unit provided essential evidence for reconstructing the earliest phases of grapevine exploitation and viticulture in the North Adriatic region. Its results clarified the protohistoric background of wine production, created new archaeobotanical and morphometric datasets, supported the ancient DNA analyses, and contributed significantly to the broader interpretation of ancient viticultural practices before and during the transition to the Roman period. These data were presented at the conference organized at the end of the project and the proceedings of the meeting are currently being published in a monograph.Dettagli del progetto
Responsabile scientifico: Antonio Curci
Strutture Unibo coinvolte:
Dipartimento di Storia Culture Civiltà
Coordinatore:
Università degli Studi di VERONA(Italy)
Contributo totale Unibo: Euro (EUR) 78.728,00
Durata del progetto in mesi: 24
Data di inizio
28/09/2023
Data di fine:
28/02/2026
