Tanella cave (Monte Baldo-Verona, Italy): a record of environmental data on the last glacial period

Authors

  • Roberto Zorzin Museo Civico di Storia Naturale di Verona, Lungadige Porta Vittoria, 9 - Verona
  • Laura Agostini IPSIA Enrico Fermi, Piazzale Guardini, 2 - Verona
  • Maria Chiara Montecchi Università di Modena e Reggio Emilia, Dipartimento del Museo di Paleobiologia e dell’Orto Botanico, Viale Caduti in Guerra, 127 - Modena
  • Paola Torri Università di Modena e Reggio Emilia, Dipartimento del Museo di Paleobiologia e dell’Orto Botanico, Viale Caduti in Guerra, 127 - Modena
  • Carla Alberta Accorsi Università di Modena e Reggio Emilia, Dipartimento del Museo di Paleobiologia e dell’Orto Botanico, Viale Caduti in Guerra, 127 - Modena

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.3986/ac.v40i1.37

Abstract

Since 2003, an extensive hydrogeological investigation has been carried out on Monte Baldo, in order to make a census of springs occurring along the west side of the mountain and to evaluate the quality of their water. The investigation included morphological and hydrogeological observations concerning the Tanella cave and interdisciplinary investigations performed on the deposits found in the cave. This paper shows the first data concerning the hydrogeology of the cave, as well as data on stratigraphy, pollen and micro-charcoals obtained from the analyses of a well preserved sequence located at ca. 80 m from the entrance (sequence A). The aim of the study was to reconstruct the environment of the area around the cave along the time span testified by the sequence. The sequence is 60 cm thick and was built up by fluvioglacial sediments followed by lacustrine sediments. Five samples taken along the sequence plus three recent control samples (mosses), collected in places assumed as origins of the pollen input, were studied for pollen and micro-charcoals. Pollen preservation was good and concentration varied from 101 to 103 p/g. Pollen spectra from the cave showed the evolution from a landscape of alpine grassland above the timberline, likely of glacial age, to a more forested Holocene landscape similar in flora to the current one testified by the control samples. Pollen probably arrived in the cave by air, water and animals and from plants growing near the cave. It appears to have been continuously underwater after its deposition due to its very good state of preservation. Micro-charcoals suggested that fires were sometimes lit near the cave.

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Published

2011-05-01

How to Cite

Zorzin, R., Agostini, L., Montecchi, M. C., Torri, P., & Accorsi, C. A. (2011). Tanella cave (Monte Baldo-Verona, Italy): a record of environmental data on the last glacial period. Acta Carsologica, 40(1). https://doi.org/10.3986/ac.v40i1.37

Issue

Section

Original papers