The second sampling campaign in Montseny Natural Park took place from October 21 to 25, featuring a new soil test pit dug at Pla de la Calma plateau, reaching a depth of 1.5 meters. The soil layers were meticulously sampled using advanced methods to collect material for radiocarbon dating, pedoanthracology, micromorphology, palynology, biomolecular analysis, and physical-chemical testing. These samples will help reveal long-term vegetation dynamics and illuminate specific agro-silvo-pastoral practices that shaped the local ecosystem.
This research is part of the PastMont project—“Pastoralism and Exploitation of the Natural Environment in Western Montseny during the Transition from Antiquity to the Medieval World” (CLT009/22/00036), funded by the Department of Culture of the Generalitat de Catalunya. Launched in 2022, the project aims to reconstruct the evolution of agricultural and pastoral practices in Montseny’s western sector, from the Pla de la Calma to Aiguafreda (Vallès Oriental), covering a transformative period from the end of the Roman era (5th-6th centuries) to the consolidation of the feudal landscape (12th-13th centuries).
PastMont brings together an interdisciplinary team, working alongside local stakeholders and institutions such as Montseny Natural Park and Biosphere Reserve of Montseny, the municipalities of Aiguafreda and Sant Martí de Centelles, as well as researchers from prominent research and educational institutions, including the Autonomous University of Barcelona and the AmbiLab (University of La Laguna). This collaborative approach aims to deepen our understanding of Montseny’s historical landscape and its enduring connection to today’s environment.
