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Abstract
BackgroundChronological information on the composition and structure of agrocenoses and detailed features of land cover referring to specific areas are uncommon in ethnobotanical studies, especially for periods before the XIX century. The aim of this study was to analyse the type of crop or the characteristics of soil cover from the XVI century to the present.MethodsThis diachronic analysis was accomplished through archival research on the inventories of the Parish of St. Mary and those of the Municipality of Pignone and from recent surveys conducted in an area of eastern Liguria (Italy).ResultsArchival data revealed that in study area the primary means of subsistence during the last five centuries, until the first half of the XX century, was chestnuts. In the XVIII and XIX centuries, crop diversification strongly increased in comparison with previous and subsequent periods. In more recent times, the abandonment of agricultural practices has favoured the re-colonisation of mixed woodland or cluster-pine woodland.ConclusionAncient documents in the ecclesiastic or municipal inventories can be a very useful tool for enhancing the knowledge of agricultural practice, as well as of subsistence methods favoured by local populations during a particular time and for reconstructing land use change over time.
Highlights
Chronological information on the composition and structure of agrocenoses and detailed features of land cover referring to specific areas are uncommon in ethnobotanical studies, especially for periods before the XIX century
One frequent problem in assessing the causes and degree of changes in land use and crop diversity through time has been the scarcity of historical data for documenting such changes [1]
This study has examined crop/land cover changes during the last five centuries in an area of eastern Liguria (Italy) through examination of archival documents taken from ecclesiastic and municipal inventories, and current field surveys
Summary
Chronological information on the composition and structure of agrocenoses and detailed features of land cover referring to specific areas are uncommon in ethnobotanical studies, especially for periods before the XIX century. The Council of Trent (1545–1563), introduced the bishops' requirement for periodic inspection of the inventories in each parish, convent or other ecclesiastic institution (including cultivated fields, forests, mills, etc.), encouraging their compilation [2]. Such documents, used rarely in ethnobotanical investigation up to now, can be a very important source of chronological information on the composition and/or structure of agrocenoses and detailed features of land cover when specific for certain areas or even toponyms [3]. Indirect data regarding the natural environment (i.e. land cover) can be extrapolated from ancient archival documents
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