Deciphering the environmental background of a roman brick and tile works in Mariana (Pruniccia, Lucciana, Corsica) with geomorphology, palaeoentomology and archaeobotany

Combined evidence from insect and plant remains was recovered from separate areas of a Roman brick works at the site of Pruniccia (Corsica), in an area adjacent to the Roman town of Mariana. Their interpretation helps us to reconstruct the specific activities undertaken and broaden our understanding of how human activities affected the composition of sub-fossil plant and insect assemblages. After including geomorphological evidence, we also assess the local environmental conditions of the site. In well PT20019, an unexpected abundance and diversity of insects characteristic of aquatic habitats contrasts with results from fruits and seeds, prompting questions on the taphonomic processes involved. The relatively small number of woody taxa identified from charcoal in kiln FR200002 and the related working area (FS20088) includes trees and shrubs that would have been easily accessible nearby. The detection of insect damage in Alnus wood is consistent with the repeated finds of insects which attack wood. This suggests that firewood may have been collected in advance and stored until needed. More generally, our work illustrates the variety of habitats in the area around the Roman town and helps us compensate for the shortage of palaeoenvironmental information available locally up to now.