Incendi di etá pleistocenica superiore e olocenica sulle montagne dell'appennino centrale

Abstract

The geological studies carried out on the Central Apennine lead to the sampling of some sediments containing charcoal produced by fires, dated by means of radiocarbon analysis. The most ancient charcoal is dated to the Upper Pleistocene and is older than 34,050 years BP, while the others are more recent than 7860±40 BP. The fires had an impact on the landscape: Where the slopes were steep, it caused the erosion of the soils and the production of colluvia, sometimes of remarkable thickness. In the near flat areas the effects seem to have been poor. It was not possible to establish the natural or anthropic origin of the fires. Nevertheless, the anthropic origin of some fires is assumed because they are dated to periods of occupation of the Apennine by groups of hunters, gatherers and herders.