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A broad correspondence between long pollen sequences and the deep-sea oxygen isotope record has been noted for some time, but there has been little effort to explore just how similar the two types of evidence are in terms of their overall structure on glacial-interglacial timescales and also how they may differ. These questions have profound importance both for how we view the stratigraphic record of changing climate in different regions and for our understanding of the climate system. Here we link the four longest European pollen records and derive a terrestrial sequence of vegetation events and a coherent stratigraphic scheme for the last 500,000 years. Comparison of the terrestrial and marine records shows good agreement, but it also reveals that the pollen sequences contain a higher degree of climate sensitivity than the oxygen isotope record. In addition, it suggests that neither an oxygen isotope record nor a Milankovitch-forced ice volume model may provide an appropriate template for fine-tuning the terrestrial record and that better chronologies will depend on an improved understanding of controls on sedimentation rates in individual sedimentary basins.

A new pollen record from Lago di Vico (core V1) provides fundamental new information towards reconstruction of flora and vegetation history in central Italy during the last 90 000 years. The chronological framework is secured by seventeen AMS14C dates, one40Ar/39Ar date and tephra analyses. At the base of the pollen record, i.e. shortly after the40Ar/39Ar date 87 000±7000 B.P., three phases with significant expansion of trees are recorded in close succession. These forest phases, which stratigraphically correspond to St Germain II (and Ognon?) and precede pleniglacial steppe vegetation, are designated by the local names Etruria I, Etruria II and Etruria III. During the pleniglacial, a number of fluctuations of angiosperm mesophilous trees suggest the presence of tree refugia in the area. The lowest pollen concentration values are recorded at ca. 22 000 B.P. which corresponds with other pollen records from the region. The late-glacial is characterized by an expansion in the arboreal pollen curves that is less pronounced, however, than in other pollen profiles from Italy. The Holocene part of the profile is consistently dominated by deciduous oak pollen. No major changes in arboreal pollen composition are recorded but several marked and sudden declines of the tree pollen concentration suggest that the forest cover underwent dramatic changes. Clear evidence for human impact is recorded only when cultivated crops became important which dates to ca. 2630±95 B.P.

The work presented in this thesis focused on the analysis of archaeological vessels. Through the search for molecular markers, identified by Gas Chromatography – Mass Spectrometry and the observation of archaeobotanical remains, this study aims to identify the original content of the studied vessels. The analysis of organic residues, both contained in the ceramic sherd and in the waterproofing layer inside the amphora, offers a first reading of the functionality of the object and its content. Particular importance is given to the botanical identification and formulation techniques used to produce a waterproofing matrix that was affixed to the inside of the amphora. The paleobotanical investigation that mainly focused on the search for pollen, brings a new angle of analysis by concentrating on the one hand on the characterization of environmental and/or economic fossil species, and on the other hand on the botanical origin of the identified pollens. In addition to the optimization of existing protocols for the extraction of molecules considered as biomarkers, this study focuses on the benefits of a multi-analytical archaeometric approach through the analysis of different archaeological artifacts from heterogeneous periods and contexts. Focusing on the Roman period, this thesis focuses on the analysis of wine and/or oil amphorae from the Planier 3 shipwreck (France) and the ancient anchorage of San Felice Circeo (Italy) before extending the methodology and the results to a "pouring" vase of singular typology dating from the Bronze Age (West Bank)., Les travaux présentés dans cette thèse se sont concentrés sur l'analyse de récipients archéologiques. A travers la recherche de marqueurs moléculaires, identifiés par chromatographie gazeuse couplée à un spectromètre de masse et l'observation de restes archéobotaniques, cette étude vise à identifier le contenu originel des récipients étudiés. L'analyse des résidus organiques, aussi bien contenu dans le tesson céramique que dans la couche imperméabilisante à l'intérieur de l'amphore, offre une première lecture de la fonctionnalité de l'objet et de sa contenance. Une importance toute particulière est accordée à l’identification botanique et les techniques de formulation utilisées pour produire une matrice imperméabilisante qui était apposée à l’intérieur de l’amphore. Le volet paléobotanique, principalement axé sur la recherche de pollen, apporte un angle d'analyse nouveau en se concentrant d’une part sur la caractérisation des espèces fossiles environnementales et/ou économiques, et d’autre part sur l'origine botanique des pollens identifiés. Outre l'optimisation des protocoles existants en matière d'extraction de molécules considérées comme biomarqueurs, cette étude met en avant les bénéfices d'une approche archéométrique multi-analytique à travers l'analyse de différents artéfacts archéologiques provenant de périodes et de contextes hétéroclites. En se concentrant sur l'époque romaine, cette thèse s'attarde sur l'analyse d'amphores à vin et/ou huile provenant des fouilles de l'épave du Planier 3 (France) et de l'ancien ancrage de San Felice Circeo (Italie) avant d'étendre la méthodologie et les acquis sur un vase « verseur » de typologie singulière datant de l'Age du Bronze (Cisjordanie).

A new species of Epuraea, Epuraea sutcuimamun Avgm, Lasoń & Audisio sp. n., from southern Turkey (Taurus Chain) was identified using morphological analyses. This species is a member ofa circum—Mediterranean endemic group of sap beetles, the Epuraea latipes species group of the Dadopora lineage, which are mostly associated with cedar (Cedrus spp.) forests. Herein, the new species is described, the previously unknown association of the little-known Epuraea subparallela Grouvelle 1896 with meso-xerophilous oaks is reported, and some new records from southern Turkey (Taurus Chain) are listed for the latter species (previously only known from the Nur Mts. in SE Turkey, Osmaniye and Iskenderun provinces). An identification key to species of Dadopora lineage is also provided. Finally, the main palaeogeographic events affecting the Miocene to Holocene dispersal and evolution of species/populations of the Dadopora lineage on cedars and oaks, and the coincident distributional dynamics of Western Palaearctic Cedrus populations throughout the Mediterranean Basin, are discussed.