Cultural heritage assets embedded in historical and archaeological landscapes play a fundamental role in shaping both the identity of a place (genius loci) and the social cohesion of the communities that inhabit it. Despite this, heritage sites are rarely interpreted as historical imprints of long-term human–environment interactions. Representing these past dynamics in a quantitative way remains a significant challenge, requiring a multidisciplinary and systems-based approach.

This study proposes an integrative framework that combines eco-physics, archaeology, and ecology, positioning the research within the broader scope of historical ecology. The aim is to characterize historical anthropogenic biomes (i.e., anthromes) as complex systems whose structure and resilience are linked to environmental resource use and regeneration. Drawing from recent literature, we also argue for the inclusion of cultural heritage within the quantification of cultural capital and cultural ecosystem services (CES), thereby complementing the assessment of natural capital.

The proposed approach enables the development of both monetary and non-monetary evaluations of cultural capital, expanding current experimental accounting frameworks. These evaluations are designed to be replicable and potentially integrable into ecosystem services accounting systems and Sustainable Development Goal (SDG)-oriented reporting tools.

At this early stage, the research contributes a conceptual bridge between historical ecology and environmental physics, allowing for counterfactual analysis of resilience and resource dependence in pre-Anthropocene contexts. Ultimately, this framework supports the recognition of the ecosystemic value of cultural heritage, promoting its integration into both conservation policies and natural capital accounting, and fostering a more comprehensive understanding of sustainability in coupled human–natural systems.