Charcoal Kilns in the Northern Apennines (italy): Forest Exploitation by Past Societies in Mountain Areas

Anthracological analyses were carried out on charcoal platforms located in the Monte Cimone and Corno alle Scale mountain areas in the Tuscan-Emilian Apennines (Northern Italy), at high altitude. Analyses of charcoal fragments contained in these man-made structures have allowed the reconstruction of human-forest relationships over the last centuries, in particular the exploitation of forests for charcoal production. Comparison of our anthracological results with ethnobotanical and historical-social information has made possible an improvement in our knowledge of this activity that was fundamental for the past mountain economy. IANSA 2018 ● IX/2 ● 169–178 Alessandra Benatti, Marie Bal, Philippe Allée, Giovanna Bosi, Daniele Dallai, Anna Maria Mercuri: Charcoal Kilns in the Northern Apennines (Italy): Forest Exploitation by Past Societies in Mountain Areas 170 coppice beech forests of Monte Cimone and Corno alle Scale mountain areas, close to the timberline (Figure 1). The objective of the research is to obtain information about the exploitation of forest resources and on the organization of the territory by past societies, as well as the possible role of the charcoal production activity on the position of the timberline.