Analisi ad alta risoluzione di archivi sedimentari olocenici: tra cambiamenti climatici, ambiente e impatto umano

This doctoral research aims to develop an integrated palaeoecological reconstruction to investigate the recurring climatic and environmental changes occurred during the Late Pleistocene and the Holocene in the pre-alpine region between southeastern Trentino-Alto Adige and western Veneto. Since this area was a pivotal mining district during the Late and Final Bronze Age, the project also focuses on the ecological impact of mining and metallurgical activities through independent proxies from continuous sedimentary sequences, which can help the understanding of socio-environmental dynamics. Stratigraphic, chronological, palynological and bio-geochemical analysis is carried out on three sediment cores from biotope Malga Laghetto (Lavarone plateau, Trento), Caldonazzo Lake (Valsugana, Trento) and Monte Rove peat bog (Piccole Dolomiti Vicentine, Vicenza) to evaluate regional vegetation history and the interactions among climate changes and- human activities interactions in order to gain deeper insights into the broader environmental history of the Alps. The Malga Laghetto sequence provides a long-term record for the vegetation history on the Lavarone plateau, spanning from the Last Glacial Maximum to the Late Holocene. Changes in the floristic composition of the transition from a steppe-glacial environment to one forested by conifers and beech are recorded and well associated to the climatic oscillations. Unfortunately, the chronological resolution is rather low for a detailed reconstruction of Holocene dynamics. The high-resolution sedimentary record of Caldonazzo Lake shows the impact of human activities on the Valsugana landscape during the Bronze Age. Between the Early and Middle Bronze Age, human influence on vegetation appears to have been primarily characterized by the reduction of forest cover to accommodate agricultural practices and livestock grazing. The deforestation intensifies during the Late and Final Bronze Age, accompanied by an increase in erosive processes and heavy metal contamination in the environment, reflecting the increase of prehistoric metal production activities. The Monte Rove sequence records the persisting presence of extensive forested vegetation in the area of Piccole Dolomiti from the I to the XVIII century CE. Silver fir and beech dominate the woodland cover, mixed deciduous forests and traces of walnut and chestnut cultivation are also consistently present. However, pollen data do not provide clear evidence of agricultural activity in the area, except for rye cultivation from the Late Antiquity to the Late Middle Ages.