Insect remains preserved in the archaeological record can be used to reconstruct past environmental, climatic, and cultural conditions. However, their study within archaeology is still underdeveloped in Mediterranean contexts.
This project aims to investigate phases of abandonment in various Mediterranean archaeological settings through the lens of archaeoentomology. Abandonment is interpreted and examined as a dynamic process involving both human and non-human actors. From this perspective, the contribution of archaeoentomology is particularly effective: insects respond rapidly to environmental changes and therefore make visible, in a relatively short time, the transformations that occur in ecosystems following the end of human occupation.

The project’s objective is to clarify the dynamics of abandonment at different sites and to highlight the multispecies interactions that arise after human activities cease. At the same time, the research seeks to expand the scope of archaeoentomology and to contribute to a better understanding of taphonomic processes and preservation conditions specific to the Mediterranean area.

The study focuses on three case studies, each characterized by distinct chronologies and significant for their relationship with the phenomenon of abandonment: the Versilian slopes of the Apuan Alps in northwestern Tuscany; the Monti Lucretili in central Lazio; and Regio II of the Archaeological Park of Pompeii. For each site, the project aims to reconstruct changes in insect community composition over time, with particular attention to the phases following human abandonment. The comparison between fossil insects and present-day entomofauna will help identify ecological continuities and discontinuities in post-abandonment landscapes.
The methodology includes an initial phase of selecting study areas where sediment sampling will be carried out. The collected samples will be processed for the extraction of insect remains following standard protocols: water flotation using a 300 µm sieve, and examination of the organic fraction under a low-power binocular microscope to isolate entomological remains. Identification will be conducted by comparing fossil specimens with modern reference material. The study of fossil insects will be accompanied by monitoring the current entomofauna present at each site.

Project edited by:

Matilde Stelli
matilde.stelli@phd.unipi.it