Paesant agricultural strategies in Souithern Tuscany: convertible agriculture and the importance of pasture

This chapter deals with the study of 6 archaeological sites in Tuscany (Grosseto-Cinigiano) dated between the II century BC and the VI century AD. The principal objective of the research is to identify the main features of the rural economy, and its connections with a characteristic local and regional environment. Thepalynological analysis was integrated with the study of microcharcoal and non pollen palynomorphs (NPP), which both are informative, especially at a local scale, of palaeoecological aspects. In addition, carpological analysis was carried out on samples from the main archaeological contexts. Data point to the complex agricultural activity that was practiced in this territory, based on the rotation of cereal fields alternated with grassland / pastures and some plot of land with fruit plants.