BIAS II

The study and preservation of biodiversity within archaeological sites is a feasible undertaking, as existing legislation and their operational status inherently mandate protection and prohibit harmful activities. Since biodiversity is not described merely as a simple catalog of terrestrial or aquatic animal and plant species, but constitutes the very web of life in an area where all organisms interact, it depends directly on the physical characteristics of the site, climate fluctuations, and the activities taking place there. This explains both local particularities and the evolution of biodiversity over time. Given this evolution, it is imperative not only to record the current state of biodiversity in these sites but also to detect its presence in the past. Thus, based on the documentation of present-day flora and fauna by the Department of Biology of the NKUA (National and Kapodistrian University of Athens), it will be possible to ascertain—to the extent that data allows—which of the older species persist and which do not across 35 preselected archaeological sites by the Ministry of Culture. Simultaneously, a team of archaeologists and historians, specializing in various periods and disciplines, is collecting and studying relevant literary, epigraphic, archaeological, and numismatic evidence, as well as chronicles, travelogues, archival material, modern iconography, and data from archaeobotany and zooarchaeology.

The modern conception of protecting and promoting cultural heritage—specifically regarding the management of archaeological sites—recognizes the natural environment as an integral part of an organic whole. Monuments are embedded in the landscape that served as the setting for historical events, daily life, rituals, and all activities of past societies. The preservation of the surrounding environment of monuments, including all its constituent elements, is considered part of a rational management of cultural assets that treats the landscape as a “monument” and its contents as worthy of protection. The “monumentalization” of the landscape entails the protection of biodiversity, not only in areas included in the European Ecological Network Natura 2000, but generally within the environment of monuments of cultural interest. The study of biodiversity in the 35 selected sites aims to contribute to the connection between the natural and cultural capital of broader regions and is expected to aid in the rescue and revival of habitats located within or adjacent to sites of cultural interest. Consequently, archaeological sites will offer visitors a more comprehensive experience and a sense of a site’s authentic state, strengthening the experiential relationship with places of historical memory and artistic value.