Holocene peat initiation in the Ligurian Apennines, northern Italy

Abstract

The radiocarbon dates obtained from the basal organic sediments of six sites in the Ligurian Apennines are presented and it is shown that most Holocene peat deposits only began to accumulate within the last 5000 years. This paper seeks to examine the significance of climatic, geological and anthropogenic factors on peat growth in eastern Liguria. The absence of known early Holocene peat or lake sediments throughout much of northwest Italy suggests widespread climatic conditions inimical to peat development during that period. Locally, however, there are strong indications that peat formation only occurred after major disruption of local soils which was most likely to have been initiated by human (Chalcolithic) forest disturbances.