Recreate the environments of the past: geognostic surveys in val di pecora and val di cornia

In July and October 2018, two coring sampling campaigns were conducted in the flood plains of Val di Cornia and Val di Pecora in South Tuscany, with the aim to recreate the natural history of these territories.

Through a wide range of procedures we will obtain crucial data about climate, vegetation, hydrogeological changes and anthropic use of the soil, useful to explain and interpret the complex relationship between man and environment in the last 3000 years (Fig.1-2).

Fig.1 The corer during the extraction of the sediment cores

Fig.2 The first phase of superficial cleaning

Fig.3 The sampling phases in the laboratoy

Fig.4 The sediment carrot after sampling

Sediment cores are currently stored at the Dipartimento di Scienze Fisiche, della Terra e dell’Ambiente of the Università degli Studi di Siena for the documentation and the sampling of specific stratigraphic ranges (Fig.3-4).

The multidisciplinary analysis will involve the Dipartimento di Biotecnologie, Chimica e Farmacia of the Università degli Studi di Siena and the Dipartimento di Agraria of the Università degli Studi di Napoli Federico II. The integration of sedimentological-stratigraphic, geochemical, palynological, geomorphological, micropaleontological and archaeological data will allow us to recreate the palaeonvironmental evolution of this area and to explain the mutual influence of these changes with the settlement context and the exploitation of natural resources.

Fieldwork