Reconstruction of the natural and cultural Holocene landscape along a transect plain-mountain of the province of Modena (Emilia Romagna, Italy) through a multidisciplinary approach -PhD Thesis (2014-2018) by Alessandra Benatti

PhD Thesis (2014-2018) by Alessandra Benatti (tutors of University of Limonges: Philippe Allée and Marie-Claude Bal-Serin - Geolab; tutors of University of Modena and Reggio Emilia: Anna Maria Mercuri and Giovanna Bosi - LPP )

The research and its aims

This research aims to analyze and understand the man-environment interactions, occurred during the Holocene, that formed the current natural and cultural landscape, a heritage to understand, safeguard and appraise. The research focuses the province of Modena and in particular the less studied mountain system, compared to the plain presenting many historical, archaeological and palaeoecological data. Agropastoral societies of the past have shaped these territories by the use, exploitation and management of the natural resources such as wood, charcoal, grazing lands,... The reconstruction of the relationship between man and environment is based on a multidisciplinary approach that combines the competences of geographers, archaeobotanists, paleoenvironmentalists, archaeologists and historians forming the research partnership. In a second time we will try to identify the possible plain-mountain connections following an ideal transect connection between the two realities.

Methodologies: Archaeological prospecting in the high mountains with the aim to discover and geolocalize pastoral structures (fences, huts,...) and charcoal kilns. Archaeoanthracology: charcoal analysis from charcoal kilns and archaeological sites.Pedoanthracology: charcoal analysis from high altitude meadows soils.

Place: Province of Modena, Emilia Romagna Region, Italy

Link useful

http://recherche.flsh.unilim.fr/geolab/