Researches on long-term environmental changes, including climate oscillations, hydrological variability, vegetation dynamics and human impact are carried out by means of analyses of pollen, palynomorphs, microscopic charcoal particles and other plant remains from archaeological layers, sediment sequences, terrestrial and marine cores. Fieldwork for sampling and surveys are planned. Morphological and molecular analyses, statistical data elaboration and graphical representations are among the main general techniques.
The temporal scale for palynology and botany is the Lateglacial-Holocene window, and the geographical focus is the central Mediterranean and north Africa-Saharan regions. Studies on palaeoecology, palaeoenviroment and vegetation history are regarded as a basis to understand the present landscape, and integration with ecological studies on modern contexts may be the focus of theses on conservation strategies and sustainable environment management. Studies on palaeoethnobotany and past land use strategies are integrated with research on ethnobotany and agrarian development in recent times aiming of the understanding of current traditions, uses and cultural landscape assessments.
