Holocene vegetation history and human impact in the eastern Italian Alps: a multi-proxy study on the Coltrondo peat bog, Comelico Superiore, Italy

The present study aims to reconstruct vegetation development, climate changes and human impact using an ombrotrophic peat core from the Coltrondo bog in the eastern Italian Alps. Evidence from pollen, micro-charcoal, major and trace elements, and lead isotopes from this 7,900 years old peat deposit...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Vegetation history and archaeobotany 2020-07, Vol.29 (4), p.407-426
Main Authors: Segnana, Michela, Oeggl, Klaus, Poto, Luisa, Gabrieli, Jacopo, Festi, Daniela, Kofler, Werner, Cesco Frare, Piergiorgio, Zaccone, Claudio, Barbante, Carlo
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Anthropology
Archaeology
Biogeosciences
Bogs
Charcoal
Climate Change
Earth and Environmental Science
Earth Sciences
Holocene
Human impact
Human influences
Human-environment relationship
Isotopes
Lead
Lead isotopes
Middle Ages
Original
Original Article
Oscillations
Paleontology
Peat
Pollen
Trace elements
Vegetation
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Summary:The present study aims to reconstruct vegetation development, climate changes and human impact using an ombrotrophic peat core from the Coltrondo bog in the eastern Italian Alps. Evidence from pollen, micro-charcoal, major and trace elements, and lead isotopes from this 7,900 years old peat deposit has been combined, and several climatic oscillations and phases of human impact detected. In particular, human presence was recorded in this area of the Alps from about 650 cal bc , with periods of increased activity at the end of the Middle Ages and also at the end of the 19th century, as evidenced by both human-related pollen and the increase in micro-charcoal particles. The enrichment factor of lead (EF Pb ) increased since the Roman period and the Middle Ages, suggesting mainly mining activities, whereas the advent of industrialization in the 20th century is marked by the highest EF Pb values in the whole core. The EF Pb data are strongly supported by the 206 Pb/ 207 Pb values and these are in general agreement with the historical information available. Therefore, the multi-proxy approach used here has allowed detection of climatic events and human impact patterns in the Comelico area starting from the Iron Age, giving new insights into the palaeoecology as well as the course of the interaction among humans, climate and ecosystems in this part of the eastern Italian Alps.
ISSN:0939-6314
1617-6278
DOI:10.1007/s00334-019-00749-y