Interdisciplinary approach for reconstructing an alder-based historical agricultural practice of the Eastern Ligurian Apennines (NW Italy)
Molinari, Chiara LU
and Montanari, Carlo
(2016)
In Environmental Archaeology
21(1).
p.31-44
- Abstract
- Data from four soil profiles studied through pollen and macroscopic charcoal analyses were used to identify specific palynological assemblages associated with a traditional land-use system documented in the Eastern Ligurian Apennines (NW Italy) between the 18th and early 20th century, concerning a cyclical use of grey alder plots for temporary cultivations involving to the use of controlled fire. This is the first attempt to verify on palynological evidence some hypotheses raised by previous historical ecology studies about the consequences of this agricultural practice (recently named alnocoltura) on past and present vegetation. Our investigations underline (1) high percentages of anthropogenic pollen indicators, (2) increase of Ericaceae... (More)
- Data from four soil profiles studied through pollen and macroscopic charcoal analyses were used to identify specific palynological assemblages associated with a traditional land-use system documented in the Eastern Ligurian Apennines (NW Italy) between the 18th and early 20th century, concerning a cyclical use of grey alder plots for temporary cultivations involving to the use of controlled fire. This is the first attempt to verify on palynological evidence some hypotheses raised by previous historical ecology studies about the consequences of this agricultural practice (recently named alnocoltura) on past and present vegetation. Our investigations underline (1) high percentages of anthropogenic pollen indicators, (2) increase of Ericaceae percentages, (3) low pollen percentages of Alnus, (4) high macrocharcoal concentrations and (5) high values of palynological richness during periods affected by the alnocoltura cycle according to the historical sources. Similar patterns are also detectable in pollen diagrams from two adjacent peat bogs. The paper shows the strength of an interdisciplinary methodology (field observations, cartographical and archival historical data, palynological and archaeological investigations) for studies of past land-use systems. By demonstrating the necessity of a long-term prospective in environmental reconstructions for the preservation of the cultural landscape, one of the important elements of this research is its potential contribution to issues of habitat management and nature-conservation policy. Further analyses are needed to test the replicability and reliability of the hypotheses derived from this study. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
https://lup.lub.lu.se/record/7373691
- author
- Molinari, Chiara
LU
and Montanari, Carlo
- organization
- publishing date
- 2016
- type
- Contribution to journal
- publication status
- published
- subject
- keywords
- Pollen and charcoal analysis, Historical maps and documents, Historical ecology, Natural resources management, Cultural landscape, Alnus incana (L.) Moench
- in
- Environmental Archaeology
- volume
- 21
- issue
- 1
- pages
- 31 - 44
- publisher
- Maney Publishing
- external identifiers
-
- wos:000368807000003
- scopus:84959319135
- ISSN
- 1461-4103
- DOI
- 10.1179/1749631414Y.0000000056
- language
- English
- LU publication?
- yes
- additional info
- Published online ahead of an issue: 13 May 2015
- id
- 1b473ce3-b65d-4c27-9fda-69b99557809b (old id 7373691)
- date added to LUP
- 2016-04-01 11:14:20
- date last changed
- 2022-04-12 21:28:43
@article{1b473ce3-b65d-4c27-9fda-69b99557809b,
abstract = {{Data from four soil profiles studied through pollen and macroscopic charcoal analyses were used to identify specific palynological assemblages associated with a traditional land-use system documented in the Eastern Ligurian Apennines (NW Italy) between the 18th and early 20th century, concerning a cyclical use of grey alder plots for temporary cultivations involving to the use of controlled fire. This is the first attempt to verify on palynological evidence some hypotheses raised by previous historical ecology studies about the consequences of this agricultural practice (recently named alnocoltura) on past and present vegetation. Our investigations underline (1) high percentages of anthropogenic pollen indicators, (2) increase of Ericaceae percentages, (3) low pollen percentages of Alnus, (4) high macrocharcoal concentrations and (5) high values of palynological richness during periods affected by the alnocoltura cycle according to the historical sources. Similar patterns are also detectable in pollen diagrams from two adjacent peat bogs. The paper shows the strength of an interdisciplinary methodology (field observations, cartographical and archival historical data, palynological and archaeological investigations) for studies of past land-use systems. By demonstrating the necessity of a long-term prospective in environmental reconstructions for the preservation of the cultural landscape, one of the important elements of this research is its potential contribution to issues of habitat management and nature-conservation policy. Further analyses are needed to test the replicability and reliability of the hypotheses derived from this study.}},
author = {{Molinari, Chiara and Montanari, Carlo}},
issn = {{1461-4103}},
keywords = {{Pollen and charcoal analysis; Historical maps and documents; Historical ecology; Natural resources management; Cultural landscape; Alnus incana (L.) Moench}},
language = {{eng}},
number = {{1}},
pages = {{31--44}},
publisher = {{Maney Publishing}},
series = {{Environmental Archaeology}},
title = {{Interdisciplinary approach for reconstructing an alder-based historical agricultural practice of the Eastern Ligurian Apennines (NW Italy)}},
url = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1179/1749631414Y.0000000056}},
doi = {{10.1179/1749631414Y.0000000056}},
volume = {{21}},
year = {{2016}},
}