A microarchaeological exploration of vine trench fills from archaeological sites in the hinterland of Marsaxlokk Bay

Abstract

The study of phytoliths has provided archaeologists with an important archaeobotanical proxy resistant to degradation in a wide range of contexts. Despite this, they have never been successfully studied in a Maltese context, with it being questioned if they even preserve in Malta’s calcareous soils. This dissertation produces novel phytolith data through the reassessment of vine trench fills at the Roman villa site at Żejtun, a site previously studied for pollen, along with the Roman villa at Marnisi, which has had no archaeobotanical study. Fifteen samples were analysed for their phytolith and calciphytolith content. Additionally, samples were analysed for their pH and geochemistry (portable x-ray fluorescence). The phytolith count was promising for the viability of future Maltese archaeological studies, even though there were some signs of degradation. The phytolith count identified twenty-seven phytolith and three calciphytolith morphotypes, and recorded several other micro-remains including charcoal, chrysophyte cysts, faecal spherulites, foraminiferans, pollen, and starch grains. The results distinguished three distinct groups in the fill sediments, which seemed to be related to different activities. These include signs of pasturing, sediment modification through fertilisation, and grain processing/storage, or fodder storage. Significantly, one group was unique in the preservation of Raphides (calciphytoliths); this has tentatively linked these fills with the presence of Vitis vinifera (wine grapes) up until the construction of the villa sealed these deposits, in what was likely a rapid transformation of the site. The micro-assemblage provides evidence for activities previously identified at the site from other analyses, but crucially identifies activities not previously detected. These results are significant for Malta as they highlight the viability of an alternative microbotanical proxy for future studies.