Multi-proxy record of environmental changes and past land use practices in a Mediterranean landscape: The Punta Mesco cape (Liguria - Italy) between the 15th and 20th century

This paper presents the first results of a multidisciplinary research concerning the restoration of a terraced landscape in the area of Punta Mesco, a promontory in the Cinque Terre National Park (NWItaly). Since 2009, FAI (Fondo Ambiente Italiano - an association for the preservation of cultural, historical and environmental heritage) developed a project the aim of which was to study and restore a particular terraced farming site, set in a Mediterranean landscape. In addition to other initiatives, such as the restoration of some buildings and the recovery of certain historical crops, since 2014, as a reference for these activities, the study of historical and environmental features of the local landscape was undertaken by LASA (Laboratory of Environmental Archaeology and History) from the University of Genoa. A multiproxy approach was developed that included archaeological investigations, charcoal and pollen analyses, vegetation surveys in association with documentary and cartographic studies in order to reconstruct the local past agro-ecosystem and changes within it, from the 15th century to the present day. This study provides an example of the use and matching of several historical sources concerning grazing, charcoal production, stone quarries, viticulture and local practices of woodland management, in order to achieve a more realistic picture of the past use of environmental resources and of the historical dynamics of an ‘individual’ landscape.