The Fathers' cell gardens of the Charterhouse of Calci-Pisa in Tuscany (Central Italy): pollen and multidisciplinary reconstruction

Eleonora Clò, Gabriele Gattiglia, Eleonora Rattighieri, Francesca Anichini, Antonio Campus, Marta Rossi, Mauro Buonincontri, Anna Maria Mercuri

Abstract

The archaeological investigation of the Charterhouse of Calci-Pisa (Central Italy) is a research project launched in 2018 by a multidisciplinary team of the University of Pisa. Three different monks gardens (the Prior s, the Apothecary s, and the Master s garden) have been investigated. The study focused not only on their structural transformations, evidenced by flowerbeds, pools, and fountains, but also paid special attention to pedological variations, plants diversity, and the presence of root systems, animals, and microorganisms, to detail changes in use, such as the succession of crops or fertilisation practices. Palynological and archaeobotanical results allowed us to reconstruct the succession of seasons in the gardens, with colourful and fragrant flowers, ornamental, aromatic, medicinal herbs, and fruit trees. The gardens seem to have a functional space organisation strictly related to the monks' peculiar kind of life, their personalities and feelings, and their relationship with nature and divinity.

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IMEKO-MetroArchaeo-2023-175.pdf

DOI

10.21014/tc4-ARC-2023.175

IMEKO TC

TC4 - Measurement of Electrical Quantities

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