Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Early–Middle Holocene vegetation history, climate change and human activities at Lago Riane (Ligurian Apennines, NW Italy)

  • Original Article
  • Published:
Vegetation History and Archaeobotany Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The radiocarbon-dated palaeoecological study of Lago Riane (Ligurian Apennines, NW Italy) presented here forms part of a wider investigation into the relationships between Holocene vegetation succession, climate change and human activities in the northern Apennines. The record of vegetation history from Lago Riane indicates that, since the end of the last glaciation, climate change and prehistoric human activities, combined with several local factors, have strongly influenced the pattern and timing of natural vegetation succession. The pollen record indicates an important change in vegetation cover at Lago Riane at ~8500–8200 cal. years b.p., coincident with a well-known period of rapid climate change. At ~6100 cal. years b.p., Fagus woodland colonised Lago Riane during a period of climate change and expansion of Late Neolithic human activities in the upland zone of Liguria. A marked decline in Abies woodland, and the expansion of Fagus woodland, at ~4700 cal. years b.p., coincided with further archaeological evidence for pastoralism in the mountains of Liguria during the Copper Age. At ~3900–3600 cal. years b.p. (Early to Middle Bronze Age transition), a temporary expansion of woodland at Lago Riane has been provisionally attributed to a decline in human pressure on the environment during a period of short-term climate change.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Alessio A, Allegri L, Bella F, Calderoni G, Cortesi C, Dai Pra G et al (1986) 14C dating, geochemical features, faunistic and pollen analyses of the uppermost 10 m cores from Valle di Castiglione (Roma, Italy). Geol Romana 25:287–308

    Google Scholar 

  • Aline P, Touzet M-C, Armengaud C, Ponge J-F (1997) Establishment of Fagus sylvatica and Fraxinus excelsior in an old-growth beech forest. J Veg Sci 8:13–20

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Alley RB, Mayewski PA, Sowers T, Stuiver M, Taylor KC, Clark PU (1997) Holocene climatic instability: a prominent, widespread event 8200 year ago. Geology 25:483–486

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ammann B, Lotter AF (1989) Late-glacial radiocarbon and palynostratigraphy on the Swiss plateau. Boreas 18:109–126

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ariztegui D, Asioli A, Lowe JJ, Trincardi F, Vigliotti L, Tamburini F, Chondrogianni C, Accorsi CA, Bandini Mazzanti M, Mercuri AM, van der Kaars S, McKenzie JA, Oldfield F (2000) Palaeoclimate and the formation of sapropel S1: inferences from late quaternary lacustrine and marine sequences in the central Mediterranean region. Palaeogeogr Palaeoclimatol Palaeoecol 158:215–240

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Arobba D, Biagi P, Formicola V, Isetti E, Nisbet R (1987) Nuove osservazioni sull’Arma dell’Aquila (Finale Ligure—Savona). Atti della XXVI Riunione Scientifica dell’ IIPP: 541–551

  • Barker G, Biagi P, Clark G, Maggi R, Nisbet R (1990) From hunting to herding in the Val Pennavaira (Liguria—Northern Italy). In: Biagi P (ed) The neolithisation of the Alpine region. Museo Civico Di Scienze Naturali, Brescia, pp 99–121

    Google Scholar 

  • Bellini C, Mariotti-Lippi M, Montanari C (2009) The Holocene landscape history of the NW Italian coasts. Holocene 19:1,161–1,172

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bengtsson L, Enell M (1986) Chemical analysis. In: Berglund BE (ed) Handbook of Holocene palaeoecology and palaeohydrology. Wiley, Sussex, pp 423–454

    Google Scholar 

  • Berger J-F, Guilaine J (2009) The 8200 cal b.p. abrupt environmental change and the Neolithic transition: a Mediterranean perspective. Quat Int 200:31–49

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Biagi P, Maggi R (1984) Aspects of the Mesolithic age in Liguria. Preistoria Alpina 19:159–168

    Google Scholar 

  • Biagi P, Nandris J (eds) (1994) Highland zone exploitation in southern Europe. Museo Civico Di Scienze Naturali, Brescia

    Google Scholar 

  • Biagi P, Maggi R, Nibet R (1987) Excavations at Arma dello Stefanin (Val Pennavaira—Albenga, northern Italy) 1982–1986. Mesolith Miscellany 8:10–11

    Google Scholar 

  • Biagi P, Cremaschi M, Nisbet R (1993) Soil exploitation and early agriculture in northern Italy. Holocene 3:164–168

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Birks HJB, Gordon AD (1985) Numerical methods in quaternary pollen analysis. Academic Press, London

    Google Scholar 

  • Björkman JJ (1997) The role of human disturbance in the local late Holocene establishment of Fagus and Picea forests in Flahult, western Smaland, southern Sweden. Veget Hist Archaeobot 6:79–90

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Blockley SPE, Blaauw M, Bronk Ramsey C, Van der Plicht J (2007) Building and testing age models for radiocarbon dates in Lateglacial and Early Holocene sediments. J Quat Sci 26:1,915–1,926

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bond G, Showers W, Cheseby M, Lotti R, Almasi P, deMenocal P, Priore P, Cullen H, Hajdas I, Bonani G (1997) A pervasive millennial-scale cycle in North Atlantic Holocene and glacial climates. Science 278:1,257–1,266

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Braggio G, Guido MA, Montanari C (1991) Palaeovegetational evidence in the Upper Nure valley (Ligurian-Emilian Apennines, Northern Italy). Webbia 46:173–185

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Branch NP (2002) L’analisi palinologica per lo studio della vegetazione e della sua gestione. In: Campana N, Maggi R (eds) Archeologia in Valle Lagorara. Istituto Italiano Di Preistoria e Protostoria, Firenze, pp 339–353

    Google Scholar 

  • Branch NP (2004) Late Würm Lateglacial and Holocene environmental history of the Ligurian Apennines, Italy. In: Balzaretti R, Pearce M, Watkins C (eds) Ligurian landscapes: studies on archaeology, geography and history. Accordia Research Institute, London, pp 7–69

    Google Scholar 

  • Branch NP, Canti MG, Clark P, Turney CSM (2005) Environmental archaeology. Theoretical and Practical Approaches, Arnold

    Google Scholar 

  • Brayshaw D, Rambeau CMC, Smith SJ (2011) Changes in Mediterranean climate during the Holocene: insights from global and regional climate modelling. Holocene 21:15–31

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Brewer S, François L, Cheddadi R, Laurent J-M, Favre E (2009) Compari-son of simulated and observed vegetation for the mid-Holocene in Europe. Clim Past Discuss 5:965–1,011

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bronk Ramsey C (1995) Radiocarbon calibration and analysis of stratigraphy: the oxcal program. Radiocarbon 37:425–430

    Google Scholar 

  • Bronk Ramsey C (2001) Development of the radiocarbon program oxcal. Radiocarbon 43:355–363

    Google Scholar 

  • Bronk Ramsey C (2007) Deposition models for chronological records. Quat Sci Rev 27:42–60

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cantu V (1977) The climate of Italy. In: Wallen CC (ed) World survey of climatology 6, climates of central and southern Europe. Elsevier, Oxford, pp 127–173

    Google Scholar 

  • Clark RL (1982) Point-count estimation of charcoal in pollen preparations and thin sections of sediments. Pollen Spores 24:523–535

    Google Scholar 

  • Clark JS (1988) Particle motion and the theory of charcoal analysis: source area, transport, deposition and sampling. Quat Res 30:67–80

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Colombaroli D, Marchetto A, Tinner W (2007) Long-term interactions between Mediterranean climate, vegetation and fire regime at Lago di Massaciuccoli (Tuscany, Italy). J Ecol 95:755–770

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Colombaroli D, Vannière B, Emmanuel C, Magny M, Tinner W (2008) Fire–vegetation interactions during the Mesolithic–Neolithic transition at Lago dell’Accesa, Tuscany, Italy. Holocene 18:679–692

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cremaschi M (1990) Pedogenesi Medio Olocenica ed uso dei suoli durante il Neolitico in Italia Settentrionale. In: Biagi P (ed) The Neolithisation of the Alpine region. Museo Civico Di Scienze Naturali, Brescia, pp 71–90

    Google Scholar 

  • Cruise GM (1990a) Holocene peat initiation in the Ligurian Apennines, northern Italy. Rev Palaeobot Palynol 63:173–182

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cruise GM (1990b) Pollen stratigraphy of two Holocene peat sites in the Ligurian Apennines, northern Italy. Rev Palaeobot Palynol 63:299–313

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cruise GM, Macphail RI, Linderholm J, Maggi R, Marshall PD (2009) Lago di Bargone, Liguria, N Italy: a reconstruction of Holocene environmental and land-use history. Holocene 19:987–1,003

    Google Scholar 

  • Cushing EJ (1967) Evidence for differential pollen preservation in late-quaternary sediments from Minnesota. Rev Palaeobot Palynol 4:87–101

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Davis BAS, Brewer S, Stevenson AC, Guiot J, Data Contributors (2003) The temperature of Europe during the Holocene reconstructed from pollen data. Quat Sci Rev 22:1,701–1,716

    Google Scholar 

  • Deacon J (1974) The location of refugia of Corylus avellana L during the Late Weichselian glaciation. New Phytol 73:1,055–1,063

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Drescher-Schneider R (1994) Forest, forest clearance and open land during the time of the Roman Empire in northern Italy (the botanical record). In: Frenzel B (ed) Evaluation of land surfaces cleared from forests in the Mediterranean region during the time of the Roman Empire. Fischer, Stuttgart, pp 45–58

    Google Scholar 

  • Drescher-Schneider R, De Beaulieu J-L, Magny M, Walter-Simonnet A-V, Bossuet G, Millet L, Brugiapaglia E, Drescher A (2007) Vegetation history, climate and human impact over the last 15,000 years at Lago dell’Accesa (Tuscany, Central Italy). Veget Hist Archaeobot 16:279–299

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Finsinger W, Tinner W (2005) Minimum count sums for charcoal-concentration estimates in pollen slides: accuracy and potential errors. Holocene 15:293–297

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Finsinger W, Tinner W, Van der Knapp WO, Ammann B (2006) The expansion of hazel (Corylus avellana L.) in the southern Alps: a key for understanding its early Holocene history in Europe? Quat Sci Rev 25:612–631

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gale R, Cutler D (2000) Plants in Archaeology: identification manual of vegetative plant materials used in Europe and the southern Mediterranean to c. 1500. Westbury, Otley

  • Giraudi C, Magny M, Zanchetta G, Drysdale RN (2011) The Holocene climatic evolution of Mediterranean Italy: a review of the continental geological data. Holocene 21:105–115

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Grimm EC (1991–2011) Tilia v1.7.16. Illinois State Museum, Springfield

  • Hoogerduijn Strating EH, Piccardo GB, Rampone E, Scambelluri M, Vissers RLM (1990) The structure and petrology of the erro-tobbio peridotite, Voltri Massif, Ligurian Alps. Guidebook for a two-day-excursion with emphasis on processes in the upper mantle (Voltri Massif, June 26–28, 1989). Ofioliti 15:119–184

    Google Scholar 

  • Huntley B (1993) Rapid Early-Holocene migration and high abundance of hazel (Corylus avellana L.): alternative hypotheses. In: Chambers FM (ed) Climatic change and human impact on the landscape. Chapman and Hall, London, pp 205–215

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Huntley B, Bartlein PJ, Prentice IC (1989) Climatic control of the distribution and abundance of beech (Fagus L.) in Europe and North America. J Biogeogr 16:551–560

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jalut G, Dedoubat JJ, Fontugne M, Otto T (2009) Holocene circum-Mediterranean vegetation changes: climate forcing and human impact. Quat Int 200:4–18

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Juggins S (2003) C2 user guide. Software for ecological and palaeoecological data analysis and visualisation. University of Newcastle, Newcastle upon Tyne

    Google Scholar 

  • Keller F, Lischke H, Mathis T, Möhl A, Wick L, Ammann B, Kienast F (2002) Effects of climate, fire, and humans on forest dynamics: forest simulations compared to the palaeological record. Ecol Model 152:109–127

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lauterbach S, Chapron E, Brauer A, Hüls M, Gilli A, Arnaud F, Piccin A, Nomade J, Desmet M, Von Grafenstein U, DecLakes Participants (2012) A sedimentary record of Holocene surface runoff events and earthquake activity from Lake Iseo (Southern Alps, Italy). Holocene 22:749–760

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lowe JJ (1982) Three Flandrian pollen profiles from the Teith valley, Perthshire, Scotland: II, analysis of deteriorated pollen. New Phytol 90:371–385

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lowe JJ (1992) Lateglacial and early Holocene lake sediments from the northern Apennines, Italy—pollen stratigraphy and radiocarbon dating. Boreas 21:193–208

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lowe JJ, Branch N, Watson C (1994a) The chronology of human disturbance of the vegetation of the northern Apennines during the Holocene. In: Biagi P, Nandris J (eds) Highland zone exploitation in southern Europe. Museo Civico Di Scienze Naturali, Brescia, pp 171–189

    Google Scholar 

  • Lowe JJ, Davite C, Moreno D, Maggi R (1994b) Holocene pollen stratigraphy and human interference in the woodlands of the northern Apennines, Italy. Holocene 4:153–164

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Maggi R (ed) (1990) Archeologia dell’Appennino Ligure gli scavi del Castellaro di Uscio: un insediamento di crinale occupato dal Neolitico alla conquista Romana. Collezione di Monografie Preistoriche ed Archeologiche 8. Instituto Internazionale di Studi Liguri, Bordighera

  • Maggi R (ed) (1997) Arene Candide: a functional and environmental assessment of the Holocene sequence. Il Calamo, Roma

    Google Scholar 

  • Maggi R (1999) Coasts and uplands in Liguria and Northern Tuscany from the Mesolithic to the Bronze Age. In: Tykot RH, Morter J, Robb JE (eds) Social dynamics of the prehistoric central Mediterranean. Accordia Research Institute, London, pp 47–65

    Google Scholar 

  • Maggi R (2004) I monti sun eggi: the making of the Ligurian landscape in prehistory. In: Balzaretti R, Pearce M, Watkins C (eds) Ligurian landscapes: studies on archaeology, geography and history. Accordia Research Institute, London, pp 71–82

    Google Scholar 

  • Maggi R, Nisbet R (1991) Prehistoric pastoralism in Liguria. Rivista di Studi Liguri 56:265–297

    Google Scholar 

  • Maggi R, Pearce M (2005) Mid fourth-millenium copper mining in Liguria, north-west Italy: the earliest known copper mines in Western Europe. Antiquity 79:66–77

    Google Scholar 

  • Maggi R, Pearce M (2010) Changing subsistence structures and the origins of mining in the Ligurian Apennine Mountains, in mining in European history and its impact on environment and human societies, proceedings for the 1st mining in European history-conference of the SFB-HIMAT (12–15 November 2009), Innsbruck University Press, pp 283–287

  • Magny M, Ruffaldi P (1995) Younger Dryas and early Holocene lake-level fluctuations in the Jura mountains, France. Boreas 24:155–172

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Magny M, Bégeot C, Guiot J, Peyron O (2003) Contrasting patterns of hydrological changes in Europe in response to Holocene climate cooling phases. Quat Sci Rev 22:1,589–1,596

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Magny M, De Beaulieu J-L, Drescher-Schneider R, Vannière B, Walter-Simonnet A-V, Miras Y, Bossuet G, Peyron O, Brugiapaglia E, Leroux A (2007) Holocene climate changes in the central Mediterranean as recorded by lake-level fluctuations at Lake Accesa (Tuscany, Italy). Quat Sci Rev 26:1,736–1,758

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Magny M, Galop D, Bellintani P, Desmet M, Didier J, Haas J-H, Martinelli N, Pedrotti A, Scandolari R, Stock A, Vannière B (2009a) Late-Holocene climatic variability south of the Alps as recorded by lake-level fluctuations at Lake Ledro, Trentino, Italy. Holocene 19:575–589

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Magny M, Vannière B, Zanchetta G, Fouache E, Touchais G, Petrika L, Coussot C, Walter-Simonnet A-V, Arnaud F (2009b) Possible complexity of the climatic event around 4300–3800 cal. b.p. in the central and western Mediterranean. Holocene 19:823–833

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Magri D (1999) Late-quaternary vegetation history at Lagaccione near Lago di Bolsena (central Italy). Rev Palaeobot Palynol 106:171–208

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Magri D, Vendramin GG, Comps B, Dupanloup I, Geburek T, Gömöry D, Latalowa M, Litt T, Paule L, Roure J-M, Tantau I, Van der Knaap WO, Petit RJ, De Beaulieu J-L (2006) A new scenario for the quaternary history of European beech populations: palaeobotanical evidence and genetic consequences. New Phytol 171:199–221

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mayewski PA, Rohling EE, Stager JC, Karlen W, Maasch KA, Meeker LD, Meyerson A, Gasse F, Van Kreveld S, Holmgren K, Lee-Thorp J, Rosqvist G, Rack F, Staubwasser M, Schneider RR, Steig EJ (2004) Holocene climate variability. Quat Res 62:243–255

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Melli P, Del Lucchese A (eds) (1987) Archeologia in Liguria III.1 Scavi e Scoperte 1982-86 Preistoria e Protostoria. Soprintendenza Archeologica della Liguria, Genova

  • Mercuri A-M, Sadori L, Uzquiano Ollero P (2011) Mediterranean and north-African cultural adaptations to mid-Holocene environmental and climatic changes. Holocene 21:189–206

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Moore PD, Webb JA, Collinson ME (1991) Pollen analysis. Blackwell Science, Oxford

    Google Scholar 

  • Nisbet R (1997) Arene Candide: charcoal remains and prehistoric woodland use. In: Maggi R (ed) Arene Candide: a functional and environmental assessment of the Holocene sequence. Il Calamo, Roma, pp 103–112

    Google Scholar 

  • Parker AG, Goudie AS, Anderson DE, Robinson MA, Bonsall C (2002) A review of the mid-Holocene elm decline in the British Isles. Prog Phys Geogr 26:1–45

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Peyron O, Goring S, Dormoy I, Kotthoff U, Pross J, De Beaulieu J-L, Drescher-Schneider R, Vannière B, Magny M (2011) Holocene seasonality changes in the central Mediterranean region reconstructed from the pollen sequences of Lake Accesa (Italy) and Tenaghi Philippon (Greece). Holocene 21:131–146

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Reille M (1992) Pollen et spores D’Europe et D’Afrique du Nord. Laboratoire de Botanique Historique et Palynologie, Marseille

    Google Scholar 

  • Reimer PJ, Baille MGL, Bard E, Bayliss A, Beck JW, Bertrand CJH, Blackwell PG, Buck CE, Burr GS, Cutler KB, Damon PE, Edwards RL, Fairbanks RG, Friedrich M, Guilderson TP, Hogg AG, Hughen KA, Kromer B, McCormac G, Manning S, Bronk Ramsey C, Reimer RW, Remelle S, Southon JR, Stuiver M, Talamo S, Taylor FW, Van der Plicht J, Weyhenmeyer CE (2004) IntCal04 terrestrial radiocarbon age calibration, 0–26 cal kyr b.p. Radiocarbon 46:1,029–1,058

    Google Scholar 

  • Renssen H, Seppä H, Heiri O, Roche DM, Goosse H, Fichefet T (2009) The spatial and temporal complexity of the Holocene thermal maximum. Nat Geosci 2:411–414

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Renssen H, Seppä H, Crosta X, Goosse H, Roche DM (2012) Global characterization of the Holocene thermal maximum. Quat Sci Rev 48:7–19

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Roberts N, Jones MD, Benkaddour A, Eastwood WJ, Filippi ML, Frogley MR, Lamb HF, Leng MJ, Reed JM, Stein M, Stevens L, Valero-Garcés V, Zanchetta G (2008) Stable isotope records of Late quaternary climate and hydrology from Mediterranean lakes: the ISOMED synthesis. Quat Sci Rev 27:2,426–2,441

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Roberts N, Brayshaw N, Kuzucuoğlu C, Perez R, Sadori L (2011) The mid-Holocene climatic transition in the Mediterranean: causes and consequences. Holocene 21:3–13

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rowley-Conwy P (1997) The animal bones from Arene Candide (Holocene sequence): final report. In: Maggi R (ed) Arene Candide: a functional and environmental assessment of the Holocene sequence. Il Calamo, Roma, pp 153–279

    Google Scholar 

  • Sadori L, Giraudi C, Petitti P, Ramrath A (2004) Human impact at Lago di Mezzano (central Italy) during the Bronze Age: a multidisciplinary approach. Quat Int 113:5–17

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sadori L, Jahns S, Peyron O (2011) Mid-Holocene vegetation history of the central Mediterranean. Holocene 21:117–129

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Schneider R (1985) Palynologie research in the southern and southeastern Alps between Torino and Trieste—a review of investigations concerning the last 15000 years. Diss Bot 87:83–103

    Google Scholar 

  • Schweingruber FH (1978) Microscopic wood anatomy. Fluck-Wirth, Teufen

    Google Scholar 

  • Stace C (1997) New flora of the British Isles. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge

    Google Scholar 

  • Stuiver M, Reimer PJ (1986) A computer program for radiocarbon age calculation. Radiocarbon 28:1,022–1,030

    Google Scholar 

  • Tallantire PA (2002) The Early-Holocene spread of hazel (Corylus avellana L.) in Europe north and west of the Alps: an ecological hypothesis. Holocene 12:81–96

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tessier L, De Beaulieu J-L, Couteaux M, Edouard J-L, Ponel P, Rolando C, Thinon M, Thomas A, Tobolski K (1993) Holocene palaeoenvironments at the timberline in the French Alps—a multidisciplinary approach. Boreas 22:244–254

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tinner W, Conedera M, Gobet E, Hubschmid P, Wehrli M, Ammann B (2000) A palaeoecological attempt to classify fire sensitivity of trees in the southern Alps. Holocene 10:565–574

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tinner W, Conedera M, Ammann B, Lotter AF (2005) Fire ecology north and south of the Alps since the last Ice Age. Holocene 15:1,214–1,226

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Troels-Smith J (1955) Karakterisering af løse jordater (Characterisation of unconsolidated sediments). Dan Geol Unders 4:38–73

    Google Scholar 

  • UNESCO-FAO (1969) Ecological study of the Mediterranean zone, vegetation map of the Mediterranean zone and explanatory notes. UNESCO

  • Valsecchi V, Tinner W (2010) Vegetation responses to climatic variability in the Swiss Southern Alps during the Misox event at the early-mid Holocene transition. J Quat Sci 25:1,248–1,258

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Valsecchi V, Finsinger W, Tinner W, Ammann B (2008) Testing the influence of climate, human impact and fire on the Holocene population expansion of Fagus sylvatica in the southern Prealps (Italy). Holocene 18:603–614

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Vescovi E, Kaltenreider P, Tinner W (2010) Late-glacial and Holocene vegetation history of Pavullo nel Frignano (Northern Apennines, Italy). Rev Palaeobot Palynol 160:32–45

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Walker DS (1960) The Mediterranean lands. Methuen, London

    Google Scholar 

  • Watson C (1996) The vegetational history of the northern Apennines, Italy: information from three new sequences and a review of regional vegetational changes. J Biogeogr 23:805–841

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Watts WA, Allen JRM, Huntley B, Fritz SC (1996) Vegetation history and climate of the last 15,000 years at Laghi di Monticchio, southern Italy. Quat Sci Rev 15:113–132

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wick L (1994) Vegetation development and human impact at the forest limit: palaeoecological studies in the Splugen Pass area (northern Italy). In: Biagi P, Nandris J (eds) Highland zone exploitation in southern Europe. Museo Civico Di Scienze Naturali, Brescia, pp 123–132

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

A number of colleagues are thanked for their generous support: John Lowe, Roberto Maggi, Carlo Montanari, Mariangela Guido, Diego Moreno, Matt Canti, Jean-Luc Schwenninger, Rob Batchelor, Dan Young and Nathalie Marini. The Parco Naturale Regionale dell’Aveto (Liguria) are thanked for their kind permission to work at Lago Riane. I would also like to thank the two anonymous referees for their helpful comments on the text.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Geography and Environmental Science and Department of Archaeology, School of Human and Environmental Sciences, University of Reading, Whiteknights, Reading, RG6 6AB, UK

    Nicholas P. Branch

Authors
  1. Nicholas P. Branch
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Nicholas P. Branch.

Additional information

Communicated by F. Bittmann.

Electronic supplementary material

Below is the link to the electronic supplementary material.

334_2012_384_MOESM1_ESM.pdf

Supplementary material 1 Full pollen diagram from Lago Riane (pollen values expressed as a % of total land pollen) (PDF 468 kb)

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Branch, N.P. Early–Middle Holocene vegetation history, climate change and human activities at Lago Riane (Ligurian Apennines, NW Italy). Veget Hist Archaeobot 22, 315–334 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00334-012-0384-9

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00334-012-0384-9

Keywords

Search

Navigation