anthropedogenic cycles in a chronosequence from the bronze age to renaissance period (bologna, italy)

In a building site located near the historic centre of the city of Bologna (Italy), archaeological and geopedological studies supplemented by chemical and physical analyses of the soil made it possible to identify 17 pedogenic cycles. These cycles, distributed in a continuous chronosequence from Reinassance period back to the Bronze Age, show a persistent anthropogenic presence as demonstrated by the different distributions of P2O5 and CaCO3, by the concentrations of some elements (Cu, Pb, Sn) and by the presence of fragments of charcoal, brick and ceramics, which overall reach the highest values during the Iron Age (Etruscan and Villanovan). According to the WRB taxonomic system, the soil units of the pedogenetic cycles belong to the groups of Anthrosols, Cambisols and Technosols.