vegetation management in archaeological sites for the protection of the monument end the enhancement...

VEGETATION MANAGEMENT IN ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITES FOR THE PROTECTION OF THE MONUMENT END THE ENHANCEMENT OF THE

HISTORICAL LANDSCAPE

A G R I C U LT U R A L U N I V E R S I T Y O F AT H E N SL A B O R AT O RY O F F L O R I C U LT U R E A N D L A N D S C A P E A R C H I T E C T U R E

E L E C T R A K A N E L L O UP h D c a n d i d a t e

VEGETATION MANAGEMENT IN ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITES FOR THE PROTECTION OF THE MONUMENT END THE ENHANCEMENT OF THE HISTORICAL LANDSCAPE

THALIS – ARCHAEOSCAPE“Integrated management of vegetation at archaeological sites to

protect monuments and enhance the historical landscape”

AGRICULTURAL UNIVERSITY OF ATHENS - UNIVERSITY OF PATRAS

INTRODUCTION

THALIS – ARCHEOSCAPE Program work packages•WP.1: Assess current situation - Record vegetation in seven archaeological sites

•WP.2: Develop alternative methods of weed control for archaeological sites

•WP.3: Assess shrubby and herbaceous native species for use in archaeological sites

•WP.4: Develop design proposals for three selected archaeological sites


• Archaeological sites are grouped geographically into 51 Regional Archaeological

Ephorates

• Currently there are no official guidelines pertaining to vegetation management

in archaeological sites in Greece by the ministry of Culture

• Since there is no official protocol the director of each Ephorate decides what

methodology will be used in the sites that they oversee

• There is no official record of what methodologies are used

W. P. 1 C U R R E N T S I T U AT I O N – Q U E S T I O N N A I R E R E S E A RC H

QUESTIONNAIRE RESEARCH

into methodologies applied for weed management and archaeological landscape

perception and design, addressed to all Regional Archaeological Ephorates


Obstruction of visitor access

Visual obstruction of the monument

Obstruction of excavation and restoration works

Threat of fire during the dry summer period

Mechanical damages

47.8

51.1

63

76.7

77.4

Which of these problems to you consider extremely serious that demand immediate

response?

Related to height growth of herbaceous species

Related to woody perennial species



P R O B L E M S A S S O C I AT E D W I T H V E G E TAT I O N I N A RC H A E O LO G I C A L S I T E S

I don’t know

Other

Tillage

Grazing

Chemical means (herbicides)

Hand weeding

String trimming

3.8

3.8

5.8

7.7

32.7

76.9

92.3

What methods do you use to limit unwanted vegetation in your ephorate?





String trimming and hand weeding• Expensive• Ineffective

Pesticides• Aesthetic and environmental degradation• Deterioration to architectural parts (if in contact)• Lack of trained personnel raises questions about personal and environmental safety


W. P. 2 W E E D C O N T R O L M E T H O D S F O R A RC H A E O LO G I C A L S I T E S

• Flaming

• Soil solarization

• Reburial

• Early fruit drop

• Precision application of pesticides

Methods that are friendly towards the monument and the environment


W. P. 2 W E E D C O N T R O L M E T H O D S F O R A RC H A E O LO G I C A L S I T E SF L A M I N G

• Flaming is a process of exposing plant tissue to heat generated by a propane

flamer

• Non chemical method, acceptable in organic farming systems

• Plant tissue is not incinerated (not burning)

• Only for free surfaces

• Applied early in the growing season (December-January)


W. P. 2 W E E D C O N T R O L M E T H O D S F O R A RC H A E O LO G I C A L S I T E SF L A M I N G

• Experimental fields in three archaeological sites

• Six flaming treatments and untreated control plots

• Measurements included % weed control, average height and plant biomass

weight Experimental field -Early Christian Amfipolis

C

4t3.5b3t3.5b2t3.5b

4t2b3t2b2t2b

W. P. 2 W E E D C O N T R O L M E T H O D S F O R A RC H A E O LO G I C A L S I T E S

F L A M I N G - R E S U LT S

Untreated control plots Best flaming treatment

Weed control (%) 0 95%Height (cm) 60 9Weight reduction (%)

0 95

W. P. 2 W E E D C O N T R O L M E T H O D S F O R A RC H A E O LO G I C A L S I T E SF L A M I N G - R E S U LT S



W. P. 2 W E E D C O N T R O L M E T H O D S F O R A RC H A E O LO G I C A L S I T E SS O I L S O L A R I Z AT I O N

• Soil solarization is a process that includes soil mulching with plastic sheets during

the warmest months of the year (duration 6 weeks)

• Soil temperature is raised to levels that are capable of killing weed seeds

• Non chemical method, acceptable in organic farming systems

• Only for free surfaces



• Experiments were carried out in the Agricultural University of Athens

• Two types of plastic: clear and opaque

• Two application periods: early and late

• Two types of soil preparation: no preparation and tillage


Solarized plots

Untreated control plots

Oct MarFebJanDecNov



W. P. 2 W E E D C O N T R O L M E T H O D S F O R A RC H A E O LO G I C A L S I T E SE A R LY F R U I T D R O P

• Many archaeological sites in Greece have olive trees as ornamental

• Olive fruits are dispersed through wind and birds - intense colonization of the

monument by olive treelings

• Prevention of the problem would be achieved by inducing vey early fruit drop before

the fruits are mature


W. P. 2 W E E D C O N T R O L M E T H O D S F O R A RC H A E O LO G I C A L S I T E SE A R LY F R U I T D R O P

• Fruit drop can be induced by applying NAA (plant hormone), when fruits are 2-3 mm,

causing them to drop early

• Experimentation included five doses of NAA and untreated control branches

• Measurements included number of fruits before and after the treatments

0 100 200 300 400 5000

102030405060708090

32 42 50 73 74 81

ΝΑΑ Dose (ppm)

Frui

t dro

p (%

)W. P. 2 W E E D C O N T R O L M E T H O D S F O R A RC H A E O LO G I C A L S I T E SE A R LY F R U I T D R O P


W. P. 2 W E E D C O N T R O L M E T H O D S F O R A RC H A E O LO G I C A L S I T E SR E B U R I A L




Gravel (5cm)GeotextileLECA (20cm)Geotextile

Quartz sand (2cm)Ceramic tiles

Woven geotextile

Non woven geotextile

Two types of geotextile: woven and non woven

Two types of rainfall: high and low


Low rainfall

High rainfal

l

Jan SepJoulMayMar


Wov

en g

eote

xtile


Low rainfall

High rainfal

l


Non

wove

n ge

otex

tile

Jan SepJoulMayMar

W. P. 2 W E E D C O N T R O L M E T H O D S F O R A RC H A E O LO G I C A L S I T E SP R E C I S I O N A P P L I C AT I O N O F H E R B I C I D E S


Precision application of herbicides either by injection or by brushing the stem

Treelings of Ailanthus altissima and Capparis spinosa

Solution:100 g Round-Up 68 SG per 300 ml νερού

W. P. 2 W E E D C O N T R O L M E T H O D S F O R A RC H A E O LO G I C A L S I T E SP R E C I S I O N A P P L I C AT I O N O F H E R B I C I D E S


Treated treelingsSeptember 5,

2014

September 30, 2014

Untreated control


W. P. 3 A S S E S S S H R U BY S P E C I E S F O R U S E I N A RC H A E O LO G I C A L S I T E S

020406080

100120

What kind of plants you would prefer to be used in an ar-chaeological site ? (rate as 1, most attractive to 5, less at-

tractive)

54321


A S S E S S S H R U BY S P E C I E S F O R U S E I N A RC H A E O LO G I C A L S I T E S

SELECTION CRITERIA• Protection of the monument (species without aggressive root systems, that do not

easily establish on walls, within cracks, or spread uncontrollably) • Historical significance to the archaeological site • Type of growth • Plant height and width • Ornamental value

• Selection of 12 native species• Study of propagation protocols (in vitro, ex vitro, seed, graft)• Establishment in archaeological sites


Anthyllis hermanniae Anthyllis barba-jovis

Calamintha nepeta Calamintha creticaBallota acetabulosa

Atriplex halimus


Ballota acetabulosa

Teucrium capitatum

Thymelaea tartonrairaThymelaea hirsuta

Lomelosia hymettiaLomelosia cretica


Propagation Establishment in archaeological sites


W. P. 3 A S S E S S H E R B A C E O U S S P E C I E S F O R U S E I N A RC H A E O LO G I C A L S I T E S


WILD FLOWER MEADOWS IN LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE• Aesthetically pleasing• Low maintenance• Suppression of weed populations

Purpose of this w.p. was to study the establishment of sown wild flower meadows appropriate for use in archaeological sites



Seed mixes designSpecies were selected among 350 taxa that were recorded in seven archaeological sites across Greece during W.P.1 of the program



Species selection criteria• Low average height• Sufficient ground cover• Lack of aggressiveness towards the monument• Seed availability in the local and international market

Two seed mixesM1: International market seedsM2: Local market seeds



Species Num of seeds/m2

Num of seeds/m2

g/m2

1 Bellis perennis 2ν 140 0,022 Calendula arvensis ν 70 0,913 Heliotropium europium 2ν 140 0,114 Lotus corniculatus 2ν 140 0,135 Matricaria recutita 2ν 140 0,016 Medicago lupulina ν 70 0,127 Medicago polymorpha ν 70 0,338 Papaver rhoeas 2ν 140 0,019 Plantago lanceolata ν 70 0,1210 Portulaca oleraceae 2ν 140 0,0211 Trifolium repens 2ν 140 0,0912 Trifolium subterraneum ν 70 0,8313 Veronica persica 2ν 140 0,0614 Viola arvensis 2ν 140 0,06

Total 1.610 2,82



Είδος Num of seeds/m2

Num of seeds/m

2

g/m2

1 Matricaria recutita 2ν 240 0,032 Medicago polymorpha 2ν 240 1,133 Papaver rhoeas 2ν 240 0,024 Portulaca oleraceae 2ν 240 0,115 Taraxacum officinale 2ν 240 0,136 Trifolium campestre ν 120 0,177 Trifolium repens 2ν 240 0,16

Total 1.560 1,75



Μ1 Μ20

50

100

150

200

250

300267

247

Num

ber

of s

eedl

ing

per

m2



Calendula arvensisTrifolium subterraneum

Medicago polymorphaMatricaria recutita

Plantago lanceolataVeronica persicaPapaver rhoeas

Viola arvensisTrifolium repens

Bellis perennisHeliotropium europium

Lotus corniculatusMedicago lupulina

Portulaca oleraceae

0 20 40 60 80 100100

733837

3212

95

200000

Seedling emergence (%)

Medicago polymorpha

Matricaria recutita

Papaver rhoeas

Trifolium campestre

Trifolium repens

Portulaca oleraceae

Taraxacum officinale

0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50

43

36

18

14

7

0

0

Seedling emergence (%)



With mowing Without mowingΜ1

Μ2


W. P. 4 D E V E LO P M E N T O F D E S I G N P R O P O S A L S F O R T H R E E A RC H A E O LO G I C A L S I T E S

Yes No I don't know

78.8

19.2

1.9

Is vegetation an inte-gral part of the ar-chaeological land-

scape?

Yes No I don't know

100

0 0

Can a landscape de-sign improve the func-tionality and appear-

ance of a site;



PRINCIPLES•The new plantings should not put to risk or hide existing structures

•Species that are connected to the local ancient history or endemic species are the most

suitable

•Low maintenance cost should be taken into consideration

•Attention should be given to the creation of shady spaces for the visitors of the site



Amfipolis

Kolona


F U T U R E W O R K


THANK YOU

vegetation management in archaeological sites for the protection of the monument end the enhancement...

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