Multidisciplinary study of Holocene soils in the archaeological sites of Cecita Lake (Sila Massif, Calabria, Italy): paleoenvironmental reconstruction

Wide interest is recently growing on Holocene paleoclimatic and paleoenvironmental variability, based on the time proximity and continuity with modern climatic changes and crucial questions about role of natural and anthropogenic forcing also in a perspective of prediction of forthcoming scenarios. Moreover, Holocene paleoclimatic reconstruction is gaining a deeper potential of investigation thanks to rapid improvement of high-resolution multi-proxy techniques. In this framework the present study deals with an integrated geomorphological, stratigraphical, pedological, paleobotanical and archaeological approach to characterize some archaeological sites excavated in the area around Cecita Lake (Sila Massif, Calabria, southern Italy). Sila uplands have been so far widely characterized in terms of late Quaternary geomorphological evolution and paleoclimatic/paleoenvironmental reconstruction (e.g. SCARCIGLIA et alii, 2005; 2008). Here we focus on the natural context and possible effects of late prehistoric to historical human settlements on it.