ANCIENT TERROIR: CORRELATING MODERN GRAPE GROWING SUITABILITY TO HISTORIC PRODUCTION ON THE SLOPES OF MONTE PALLANO, ABRUZZO, ITALY

The middle valley of the Sangro River in the southern Abruzzo is undergoing a coordinated landscape archaeology project focused on Monte Pallano. The study area is part of the ancient territory of Samnium, a federation of Italian tribes, which was subjugated within the Roman Empire by 290 BCE and finally absorbed by 80 BCE. In modern times, the Abruzzo is a thriving viticultural area and is recognized for two DOC varietals, Moltepulciano d'Abruzzo and Trebbiano d'Abruzzo as well as many other native varietals. This study correlates the terroir of modern grape production with the potential for grape growing in the archaeological past.

Recently, the preservation of grape pips was recovered from excavation trenches on the south slope of Monte Pallano in what are being interpreted as field processing areas. The pips suggest that there may have been active grape harvesting on the south slope during the Samnitic and/or Roman occupations. No modern viticultural operations are located in close proximity to the site, while cultivation is taking place further to the north along a tectonically uplifted Quaternary coastal plain. The lack of current usage in grape production is not conclusive evidence that the south slope was not used for that purpose. With the possible discovery of pips on the site, an analysis of the site's suitability for grape production eliminates any modern bias towards an interpretation of the site's ancient usage.

Soil and climatic data were collected from Monte Pallano's southern slope and the contemporary vineyards to the north to determine local suitability criteria for wine production. Soil suitability criteria included pH levels, texture and clay type analysis, soil permeability, and water table depth and historic fluctuation. Identification of local vegetation and native rootstocks was also conducted to assist in the interpretation of local pedologic and climatic parameters. Soil maps were consulted to obtain an overall geologic picture of the area. The morphology of the fossilized pips themselves served as an indication as to whether they were cultivated or merely wild strains, although a larger sample is required for conclusive results. As a final product, we anticipate correlating grape growing suitability with evidence of climatic shifts over the past 2000 years.