Human-Environment interactions in and around Venice Lagoon: micro-ecologies and geoarchaeological narratives from Roman Period to Middle Ages

Project Information

WaterScapes

Grant agreement ID: 101065058

DOI

10.3030/101065058

Project closed

EC signature date 5 July 2022

Start date 1 August 2022

End date 31 July 2024

Funded under

• Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA)

Total cost

No data

EU contribution

€ 172 750,08

Coordinated by

UNIVERSITA CA' FOSCARI VENEZIA
Italy

Periodic Reporting for period 1 - WaterScapes (Human-Environment interactions in and around Venice Lagoon: micro-ecologies and geoarchaeological narratives from Roman Period to Middle Ages)

Reporting period: 2022-08-01 to 2024-07-31

Summary of the context and overall objectives of the project

The WaterScapes project investigated the complex interactions between environmental changes and societal transformations in the Venice Lagoon and surrounding regions from Roman period to Middle Ages. Historically, interpretations of settlements and societal structures in this area have focused predominantly on trade, power dynamics, and colonization, often overlooking the crucial role of environmental factors. By integrating advanced analytical techniques across disciplines such as bio-sedimentology, geochemistry, archaeology and history, the project aimed to provide a more nuanced perspective on the interplay between human activities and environmental transformations. Its objectives included enhancing paleo-environmental reconstructions to better understand past ecological and climatic conditions, analyzing how human activities shaped and adapted to their surroundings through a multi-proxy approach, and developing a coastal vulnerability index to assess and mitigate risks to archaeological sites. The project's pathway to impact involves generating new insights into historical human-environment interactions in water-dominated environments, identifying the extent and effects of ancient pollution, and providing data to inform current and future environmental management strategies. The expected impacts are substantial, offering a detailed historical context for understanding ongoing environmental challenges and informing policies for heritage preservation and adaptation in front of global change in the Venice Lagoon and beyond.

Work performed from the beginning of the project to the end of the period covered by the report and main results achieved so far

Initial activities involved the development and implementation of a comprehensive data management plan, which guided the collection, processing, and analysis of environmental and archaeological data. Core drilling and sampling were carried out at key sites, including Venice, Lio Piccolo, Torcello, and Aquileia, utilizing advanced multi-proxy techniques. A set of 18 new sedimentary long continuous sedimentary cores were extracted and sampled for a multi-proxy analysis. The integration of diverse analytical techniques—sedimentological, micro-paleontological, palynological, geochemical, micro-morphological and radiocarbon dating—enabled a comprehensive reconstruction of past environments and human activities. Geochemical analyses played a crucial role in understanding the environmental and anthropogenic changes over time. This included the examination of major and trace elements, as well as stable lead isotopes, which illustrated the impact of human activities on the environment from the Bronze Age through to the Medieval period. The data highlighted the gradual accumulation of pollutants and its correlation with urbanization and preindustrial activities. A significant achievement was the integration of micro-ceramics and micro-charcoal analyses, that provided insights into the intensity and nature of human activities at specific time periods and revealing how ancient societies managed and altered their environments. These findings demonstrate the persistence of environmental degradation over millennia and provide a deeper understanding of how ancient societies influenced their surroundings.

Progress beyond the state of the art and expected potential impact (including the socio-economic impact and the wider societal implications of the project so far)

The project made notable strides in documenting long-term human-environment entanglement in the lagoon of Venice. By extending the known chronology of human occupation in the northern lagoon by 1,000 years, the research has unveiled a continuous presence dating back 4,000 years. This expanded timeframe enabled a comprehensive analysis of environmental transformations over millennia, including the detailed identification of shifts in sea level, salinity, and sedimentation patterns. Such in-depth examination has highlighted significant environmental transitions, notably the intrusion of seawater that gradually transformed the landscape from alluvial to lagoonal. Another major discovery was the detection of microplastics in sediment cores up to 3 meters deep, revealing the pervasive and persistent nature of modern pollutants in ancient sediment layers. This finding underscores the extent of contemporary pollution and its long-term environmental impacts. In addition, the project provided new insights into historical, preindustrial pollution levels, demonstrating severe environmental degradation during periods of intense urbanization in Aquileia. A key technical output was the development of a Coastal Vulnerability Index, which assesses the risks faced by archaeological sites from environmental threats. The potential impacts of these findings are substantial. They inform both historical research and contemporary environmental management, providing a nuanced perspective on long-term pollution trends and their implications for current conservation strategies. To ensure further uptake and success, several needs must be addressed. Continued research is essential to expand on these findings and refine the Coastal Vulnerability Index developed during the project. Demonstration and validation of the CVI in other coastal contexts could enhance its applicability and impact. Access to additional funding and resources will support further research and increase the resolution of both the paleo and modern pollutions trends. Establishing supportive regulatory and standardization frameworks will facilitate the integration of these findings into broader environmental management practices.

Aerial view of Lio Piccolo, northern lagoon of Venice