Environment, Climate and Society in Roman and Byzantine Butrint

A multiproxy analysis of sediments from Butrint lagoon, Albania, reveals that periods of increased farming and siltation (AD 400–600 and 700–900) coincided with wetter conditions in the region. This environmental shift aligns with the territorial and economic expansion of the Byzantine Empire, suggesting trade played a pivotal role in altering land use during this era. The study combines sedimentology, geochemistry, and pollen analysis to reconstruct these changes, providing insights into the interplay between climate, environment, and societal development in Roman and Byzantine Butrint.

Morellón, M., Sinopoli, G., Izdebski, A., Sadori, L., Anselmetti, F., Hodges, R., Regattieri, E., Wagner, B., Brushulli, B., & Ariztegui, D. (2016). Environment, Climate and Society in Roman and Byzantine Butrint. Late Antique Archaeology, 12(1), 3–17. https://doi.org/10.1163/22134522-12340063