Karst record of Holocene climate and human-induced changes in surface processes in the northern Apennines of Italy

A new study reveals that human land-use changes, particularly the slash-and-burn technique practiced since the Copper Age, significantly increased soil erosion and sediment flux into karst systems in the northern Apennines of Italy. The research, conducted on sediments from Tana della Mussina Cave (TdMC), shows that clastic sedimentation surged after 5500 years BP due to deforestation, leading to higher charcoal and heated soil remnants in the cave's deposits. This finding underscores early human impact on Earth's Critical Zone processes, with implications for understanding long-term environmental changes. The study combines sediment analysis, speleothem records, and archaeological evidence to reconstruct Holocene hydrological and anthropogenic influences on karst dynamics.

Cremaschi, M., Regattieri, E., Zanchetta, G., Isola, I., Hellstrom, J. C., & Zerboni, A. (2026). Karst record of Holocene climate and human-induced changes in surface processes in the northern Apennines of Italy. Catena, 266, 109960. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.catena.2026.109960