Pedological investigation of an early Bronze Age site in southern Italy

Abstract

Archaeological excavations over the last 40 years in Campania (southern Italy) confirm intense human occupation since the early Bronze Age (EBA). A pedological analysis of a ∼9 m deep pedostratigraphic sequence at Palma Campania (Naples) provides insights into fertility, rates of soil formation, and environmental conditions over the past 10 kyr. Fourteen volcanic soils formed in parent materials from Vesuvius and Campi Flegrei volcanic eruptions were analyzed. Results show that soils differ markedly in terms of thickness, andic properties, chemical fertility, and degree of development. Chemical properties, along with specific soil micromorphological features (such as silt coatings, laminar structure, iron segregations), are interpreted in terms of pedogenetic processes and used to reconstruct past environmental conditions. The degree of soil development, evaluated on the basis of organic matter content and some andic properties, proved more indicative of climate and geomorphological stability than duration of pedogenesis. Since the excavation also revealed an extensive EBA paleosurface and soil, targeted analyses were carried out to gain a better understanding of the impact of human activities and domestic animals on soil properties.

Soils of the Aversa plain (southern Italy)

“…Due to these properties, the soil benchmark very likely formed by the weathering of the Neapolitan Yellow Tuff (which has been frequently identified at the bottom of the benchmark soil), in a moisture regime much more humid than the present. This hypothesis is consistent with several findings in the Campania plain of a very similar soil (Marzocchella, 2000;Vingiani et al, 2018) formed before the Agnano-Mt. Spina eruption (4130 ± 50 14 C yr B.P.…”

“…Settlements of considerable extension have been found at Gricignano d'Aversa (6 ha), in the Aversa plain. The key factor in understanding the wide demographic distribution of the Palma Campania culture is in the chemical fertility of the lands (Vingiani, Minieri, Albore Livadie, Di Vito, & Terribile, 2018).…”

Holocene vegetation record of upland northern Calabria, Italy: Environmental change and human impact

“…Quite some variation exists in the ages reported in various papers for this AP2 eruption. Vingiani et al (2017) report an age of 3170 ± 240 cal. yr BP, which was taken from Santacroce (1987).…”

Recent History, Use and Forgetfulness of the Cypress Forest of Fontegreca (Southern Italy)

“…In the case of parent material of volcanic origin, there is frequently a genesis of Andosols or soils with andic properties. These soils are known by the literature for their excellent properties [41], providing high chemical and physical fertility to ecosystems [42], both in volcanic districts [43,44] and in nonvolcanic mountain landscapes [45,46] but, also, an inside "fragility" to land degradation [47,48] and pollution [49,50].…”