Geo-archaeological aspectsi in Modena plain, northern Italy

This abstract traces the various stages of geomorphological evolution of the plain area around Modena from the VI millennium B.C. to the Present, through reconstruction of the ancient landscape and human settlements.Geomorphological investigations have led to the implementation of a Micro-relief Map, a Digital Elevation Model (DEM), a Map of surface deposits and a Geomorphological Map.As regards archaeological studies, it was possible to connect archaeological findings with geomorphological surface evidence with a good level of precision. The topographic and stratigraphic positions of archaeological finds have been compared with paleoenvironmental data, in order to reconstruct the evolution of the territory.The comparison of geomorphological and archaeological data allowed many fluvial forms to be dated. In particular, it was interesting to observe the westward shift of the River Panaro from the Bronze Age and the connection of many sites of this period with the fluvial forms identified. In addition, in the area of the historical centre of Modena it was possible to reconstruct the ancient soil levels, starting from Roman times, and measure the thickness of archaeological stratigraphies and alluvial deposition layers. This led to a model of fluvial evolution which shows the aggradation of the plain where the watercourses turn from deepened riverbeds to hanging riverbeds.