BIAS II

The study and preservation of biodiversity in archaeological sites is a feasible undertaking, as the legal framework and operational regulations governing these sites inherently require protection and prohibit harmful activities. Biodiversity is not defined by a simple list of animal and plant species, whether terrestrial or aquatic, but constitutes the very fabric of life in a given area, where all organisms interact. It depends directly on the natural characteristics of the site, climatic fluctuations, and human activity. This explains both the local particularities and the historical evolution of biodiversity over time. Given this evolving nature, it is essential not only to record the current state of biodiversity in these sites, but also to trace its presence in the past. Based on the present-day recording of flora and fauna by the Department of Biology at the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, the project will attempt—where the data allow—to determine which species have been preserved and which have disappeared across 35 archaeological sites selected by the Ministry of Culture. In parallel, a team of archaeologists and historians, specialising in various periods and disciplines, will collect and study relevant textual, epigraphic, archaeological, and numismatic evidence, chronicles, travel literature, archival material, modern iconography, as well as archaeobotanical and osteoarchaeological data.

Contemporary approaches to the protection and enhancement of cultural heritage, particularly to the management of archaeological sites, recognise the natural environment as an integral part of an organic whole. Monuments are embedded within the landscape, which forms the backdrop for historical events, daily life, ritual practices, and all acts of ancient societies. The preservation of the surrounding environment, with all its constituent elements, is considered part of a responsible management strategy that treats the landscape as a “monument” and all it contains as worthy of protection. The “monumentalisation” of the landscape entails the safeguarding of biodiversity not only in areas listed under the European Natura 2000 ecological network but also more broadly in the environments surrounding monuments of cultural interest. The study of biodiversity in the 35 selected sites aims to contribute to linking the natural and cultural capital of broader regions and is expected to support the preservation and revival of habitats located within or adjacent to cultural heritage sites. In this way, archaeological sites will offer visitors a more holistic experience and a more authentic sense of place, deepening their engagement with landscapes of historical memory and artistic value.