The Impact of Late Holocene Flood Management on the Central Po Plain (Northern Italy) (original) (raw)
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Medieval environmental changes and flood management in the Central Po Plain (N Italy)
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The landscape development of the Central Po Plain has a long-lasting connection with human activities. After the collapse of the Roman Empire that coincides with a climate changing phase, the natural depressions on the right side of the Po River turned in vast swamp basins. This lacustrine environment characterised the landscape until the land reclamation that started in Renaissance and was completed only in 20th century AD. During the Middle Ages, humans coped with the environmental change using land and water management practices for agriculture purpose which modified the palustrine landscape. In particular, the exploitation of fluvial sediments had the effect to fill the swamps obtaining new farmland. The application of geoarchaeological tools has made possible to recognise anthropogenic landforms derived from this sustainable landscape management in the Middle Ages.
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