Ricerc@Sapienza

Archaeobotanical analyses carried out in a Renaissance pit of a tower in the Santi Quattro Coronati complex (Rome) are presented. The plant materials, preserved by mummification through desiccation, are roughly dated between the 15th and 16th centuries. Sieving and a preliminary analysis of two stratigraphic units have been carried out, attesting the presence of 6,000 well-preserved fragments of seeds and fruits. The initial stages of the research have revealed many edible cultivated species, including Pastinaca sativa L. (parsnip), Juglans regia L. (walnut) and Vitis vinifera L. (grape). Written evidences attesting contacts of the Santi Quattro Coronati bishop Lorenzo Pucci with the Americas at the beginning of the 16th century lead to the hypothesis of New World species being present in the deposit. The plant assemblage should give an overview on plant use during the Renaissance in a high-level residence of Rome.