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Atti del convegno annuale organizzato dall'Associazione Italiana di Geologia e Turismo

Mediterranean Geoarchaeology Workshop, Shaping the Mediterranean basin: islands, coastlines and cultures across time

As is known, archeology is the science that studies human cultures and civilizations of the past, and their relationships with the surrounding environment, through the collection, documentation and analysis of the material traces they have left (architecture, artifacts, biological and human remains). The recently coined term geoarchaeology emphasizes the value and importance of the geological sciences in archaeological studies. Only in recent decades, archaeologists and historians have felt the need to reconstruct the history of the ancient settlements not only through the study of excavated material, but also through the use of specific knowledge relevant to the earth science, particularly to the geology and stratigraphy, and to the paleo-environmental field. Therefore, we can consider geoarcheology as a new field of investigation, with a multidisciplinary approach, which is among classical archeology, geology and geomorphology. It makes use of the methods and techniques of geology and physical geography, but also of the other earth sciences (eg geopedology, geochemistry, geophysics, etc..) in order to enrich the study of the vestiges of the past. In Italy, and generally in all the countries of the Mediterranean basin, both the urban areas with ancient human settlements and the rural areas are characterized by a high density and diversity of archaeological sites, located in geological landscapes of remarkable value. Therefore, geoarchaelogy is a field of research of extraordinary interest, and the experience of the landscape through geotourism or geoarcheotourism, both in urban and rural areas, is decisively worthy. For this reason, as part of the conference, we decided to propose a specific session dedicated to this interesting theme, that is intended to gather increasing interest in the future.

Les oasis dattieres situées dans les auréoles des chotts de la Tunisie méridionale (Fig. 1) constituent des agro-écosystèmes remarquablement influés par la diversité des milieux physiques. L'assimilation de cette complexité paysagère par les populations locales, depuis fort longtemps, a contribué au développement d'un chapelet des oasis surprenantes au niveau de la conservation de la biodiversité et sur le plan de l'importance des modalités d'adaptation aux caprices des milieux désertiques. Malgré cette forte richesse issue d'une longue histoire d'expériences et des créations, ces écosystèmes sont de nos jours très sensibles aux différentes modifications liées aux changements climatiques, notamment à l'échelle locale, et particulièrement aux mutations survenues sur le plan socio-économiques et de l'urbanisation croissante qu'a connu la région depuis quelques décennies. Pour remédier à ce processus aussi inquiétant, plusieurs tentatives sont engagées dans l'objectif de préserver des oasis vulnérables et de développer de nouvelles techniques culturales. Par ailleurs, un nombre important de ces oasis figure sur les circuits touristiques les plus convoités de la Tunisie. Malgré ce succès en terme quantitatif, l'impact de ces flux reste en deçà des attentes des acteurs locaux et particulièrement les Populations oasiennes. Elles contestent en effet, les modalités actuelles de présentation superficielle de leurs paysages. Elles aspirent en revanche de montrer les véritables potentialités spécifiques qui constituent l'identité de chaque oasis. Dans ce sens, la présente contribution propose une nouvelle approche de valorisation du potentiel géotouristique de ces écosystèmes oasiens. Il s'agit de proposer une approche systémique dans la conception de base de données interactive dédiée aux différents aspects du milieu physique et particulièrement des caractéristiques géomorphologiques et paysagère de chaque oasis. L'interrogation conceptuelle et multicritères de ces bases de données géographiques constituent un moyen très pratique pour dresser une carte thématique des « Géomorphosites Oasiens » dans la dite région. En s'appuyant sur l'utilisation d'un système d'information géographique, cette étude veut fournir des nouveaux horizons pour la diversification et l'enrichissement touristiques, ainsi que le renforcement de rayonnement socio-économiques relatif aux oasis en question.

Le géosite de Taferdoust est situé dans la région de Fès-Boulemane-Skoura, dans la profonde et sinueuse vallée de l'Oued Guigou, loin des principales voies de communication. L'emplacement de la petite forteresse de Taferdoust dans la partie axiale du synclinal de Skoura, ses singulières caractéristiques géomorphologiques, confèrent au lieu un intérêt scientifique doublé d'une valeur esthétique supplémentaire. Dans le synclinal de Skoura se retrouvent les différentes formations du Dogger du Moyen Atlas central, qui constituent le comblement du sillon moyen-atlasique. Le douar est bâti sur la partie supérieure du "Calcaire corniche", dépôt de calcaires de plate-forme épi-récifale (F. de Recifa). Au-dessus, se développent des dépôts marno-calcaires et marneux correspondant aux fluctuations d'environnement marin de plate-forme (F. Bou Akrabène-Ich Timellaline). Le douar est placé sur un éperon rocheux constituantle lobed'un méandrede l'Oued Guigou, accessible uniquement par un sentier étroit. Pour les constructions on a utilisé les matériaux disponibles sur le site même : les pierres, les poutres en bois de cèdre, l'eau, la terre, la paille. La vue au NE de Taferdoust donne une première approche en contre-plongée de ce douar pittoresque, entouré de falaises abruptes dues à l'érosion fluviale du "Calcaire corniche".En contrebas apparait un pont étroit et en rive droite grimpe le seul chemin d'accès à ce site naturellement fortifié. Un second point de vue, au SW du douar, permet une vue plongeante sur le douar et le méandre encaissé qui l'entoure dans son contexte géologique. Le géosite de Taferdoust ne représente pas un cas isolé. Plusieurs sites forts intéressants sont échelonnés dans la vallée reliant les villes de Skoura et de Boulemane, présentant ainsi un grand potentiel qui pourra être exploité avec des projets visant à un «géo-écotourisme scientifique» associé à un développement durable de cette région hors des circuits touristiques traditionnels.

In June 2009, San Lucano Valley (Belluno, Italy) was included in the "World Heritage" UNESCO System n.3: Pale of San Martino - San Lucano-Belluno Dolomites. The Valley is already well known for their naturalistic attractions by hikers and tourists, but the combination between its geological, geomorphological, structural and stratigraphic features with its naturalistic values, make this site a "natural book" of global significance: because of its geomorphodiversity and of its environmental context, this Valley was selected for a broader project of scientific dissemination concerning the Belluno Dolomites. Our work is to translate the amount of geomorphologic and geological singularities of the Valley into attractive details, useful to underline this unique area as a real key to understand the geological history of Dolomites from Triassic to present. The purpose is to disseminate geo-scientific knowledge and reaching the most different kind of users (primary and high schools students, sightseers, amateurs, "mystical paths" pilgrims, etc.) by several facilities (GIS, WebGIS, Apps for mobile devices) used together: with a simple click you must be able to prepare for your hikes, knowing in advance the territory, bike riding first at home virtually in 3D, discover the hidden corners of the Valley and then get excited, step after step through the paths prepared for you! Each route must be accompanied by a technical card with altitude, photos, descriptions, PDF maps and .gpx files that can be downloaded. For whom wishing, just moving the mouse searching the most exciting mountain landscape, it become possible to explore by yourself. These utilities could be a starting point to stimulate and develop a sustainable geo-tourism in upland, often depopulated because of lack of expectations.

The remote sensing-based virtual journey of the geosites of Rabat-Salé-Zemmour-Zaër region and its Middle Atlas area is a means of raising awareness and promoting the natural landscape resources of Morocco. The present work aims to show that spatial imaging possesses an excellent potential for the interpretation of the geological and geomorphological characteristics of the geosites. In this context the exhaustive knowledge of these environments, allowed by the remote sensing, is more necessary than ever in order to perform the relevant periodic assessments. This implies having highresolution maps in order to develop a complete database of every geomorphosite of the region.

La présente étude propose l'inventaire des sites naturels géologiques et géomorphologiques dans le paysage extrêmement diversifié du Massif Central du Maroc. La région est caractérisée par des morphologies contrastées, en relation à la grande diversité lithologique des terrains paléozoïques (schistes-grés, quartzites, calcaires, granites, vulcanites, etc.), et liées aux longs et complexes processus géomorphologiques qui les ont édifiées au cours du temps. Ces terrains ont été déformés, métamorphosés et intrudés par des granites pendant l'orogenèse hercynienne et, par la suite, ont été sujets à pénéplanation à partir du Permo-Trias jusqu'au Plio-Quaternaire. En plein massif central il y a le batholite granitique hercynien de Ment (279Ma), intrus dans des terrains ordoviciens et viséens. A côté il y a le paysage de la région d'Oulmès, constitué de grès, de pélites et de schistes d'âge cambro-ordovicien, déformés pendant l'orogenèse hercynienne engendrant des structures synschisteuses plurikilométriques déversées vers le SE, également intrudés par une masse granitique hercynien allongée selon la direction NNE, qui a développé une large auréole de métamorphisme. Ce paysage géologique est caractérisé d'une large surface d'aplanissement d'où émergent des culminations modestes de piles de blocs des formes rudérales (tors) ou des rochers de grande intérêt scénographique dans le domaine granitique, et aussi nombreux appareils volcaniques (Plio-Quaternaire) en forme de cônes de scories rouges ou grises essentiellement, des coulées de laves, aussi avec typique fissuration prismatique, qui se sont épanchées directement sur les incisions latérales du socle. Le travail vise à promouvoir des initiatives de développement durable dans une région à prédominance économique agro-pastorale.

The socio-economic scenario of a region is closely linked to the geomorphologic arrangement of the land. By integrating geology and land use, it is possible to study the relationship between landscape and wine areas. The production of wine is one of the most important component in the Italian culture as well as in the economy. At the same time, it is an expression of the territory: in this way it becomes a "medium" to communicate the landscape and to promote the sustainable development. In this context, the conferences on "Landscapes of Wine"created and organized by Lucilia Gregori, Professor of Geomorphology at the University of Perugia, dead in January 2012, have been for many years an opportunity for a significant and permanent dialogue between the experts (academics, producers, consumers) offering proposals for knowledge and qualified enjoyment of the best iIalian wines. One of the most important Lucilia's projects was the realization of "geological labels" on the wine bottle, describing the landscape of the production area by a geo-morphologic point of view. We are trying to continue these projects, following an integrated methodological approach, GIS based. The Geographical Information Systems represent new tools and new ways of dialogue, aimed at an easier access to the information in a scientific and cultural way, using simple communication codes. GIS technologies can synthesize, manage and represent large amounts of data, giving the researchers as well as the public, a complete information about wine, landscapes and territory. A further and interesting opportunity is the identification of those wine-producing areas characterized by environmental and cultural value such special to be considered as geosites. A multidisciplinary methodology allows a complete knowledge of territory, useful in territorial planning policies oriented to a sustainable development, and contributes significantly to a better understanding of the culture of Italian wines.

San Lucano Valley (Belluno, Italy) is included in the UNESCO System n.3: award of "World Heritage" area. The land use in the valley is not intensive and there has not been interference to the riparian zone, since the flood of 1966, during which the majority of the existing trees (conifer) were uprooted. After 1966, an exceptional riparian forests of Alnus incana and Fraxinus excelsior with some Mountain Maple and Spruce, took over. These forests are of high natural interest for the E. C.: (site BL28 from Natura 2000 network), and constantly under observation and carefully preserved. For these reasons, the lower Tegnas River has become an open-laboratory to study the stream and how it adjusts from past periods to recent morphodynamic events, and to verify the applicability of the methodology referred as Watershed Assessment of River Stability and Sediment Supply (Rosgen, 2006) in the morphological context of the Alps and in their hydroclimatic environment. The stream geomorphology shows the evidence of channel changes during over 50 years. Quaternary fluvial deposits, postglacial landslides and debris flows are filling the valley bottom with a 200m thick covering. The gravel of this flat area must be periodically quarried to ensure the hydraulic protection of the sideway road, but the newly rebuilt banks are quickly eroded due to the floods and the streambed becomes impracticable and unsuitable for spontaneous fish habitats and for forest growth. The monitoring of streams over time, modeling their geomorphologic trends, gives some contribution to understand the erosion-transport-deposition process in order to reset a more stable, long-lived, riverbed with natural solutions. This may be a useful approach in restoration plans, in order to make the riverbed renaturalization more stable and improving the accessibility to the riparian zone, without disregarding the preservation of the natural environment quality.

Le caratteristiche di un vino dipendono dalla cantina, dai vitigni utilizzati per la produzione delle uve, e dal terroir: quella combinazione magica di geologia, morfologia, clima, coltura e cultura che caratterizza l’ambiente dove il vino nasce. Un sistema informativo geografi co è uno strumento potentissimo al servizio della qualificazione del terroir perché aiuta gli esperti nell’elaborazione dei dati e nella loro analisi. La tecnologia WebGIS si rivela essere un valido strumento di ausilio per l’analisi e la valorizzazione del territorio. Attraverso l’uso di queste soluzioni tecnologicamente avanzate, WineGIS fornisce in maniera integrata strumenti di carattere tecnico e scientifico, in grado di rappresentare in modo unitario la complessa e ricca realtà delle zone di produzione tipiche dei vini italiani. E di rappresentare un punto di partenza per una moderna politica di valorizzazione del territorio. The characteristics of a wine depend on the cellar, the grapevines used in the production of the grapes and the terroir: that magical combination of geology, landscape, climate culture that characterize the environment in which the wine is born. GIS is a powerful instrument in providing accurate terroir information because it helps experts in the elaboration of data and their research. Web GIS technology is a powerful tool to support landscape analysis and promotion. Through the use of these technologically advanced solutions, WineGIS offers, in an integrated manner, scientific and technical instruments able to represent in a unified way, a complex and rich view of areas of production typical to the Italian wine industry. And to represent a starting point for a modern political evaluation of the zone.

Hydrological features are a fundamental element of the whole “geoheritage” of a site. It is, indeed, possible to identify the “water heritage” part related to the value of water and its phenomena. Recent studies were carried out in the San Lucano Valley (Belluno, Italy) and its geological, geomorphological and hydrological observations can help to perceive some natural occurrences as “hydrological heritage”. They are a solid background that helps us to analyse and bring into evidence the exceptionality of the hydrogeological features of this site. San Lucano Valley thanks to its numerous springs and to its particular morphology characterized by steep slopes and crest rising up above the valley floor, represents a unique “window” in the core of a karst carbonatic aquifer. This peculiar topographical setting enables a 3D view of the groundwater flow, from the recharge areas to the spring and alpine stream from its headwaters to where it becomes a tributary of a bigger river. To classify the springs of the valley and to underline their peculiar hydrogeological features, several surveys were performed, discharge in streams and springs was regularly measured using current meters, and the water level was monitored on site in reference cross sections (this activity is still in progress). In order to assess the stream hydromorphology, the geomorphic method of Rosgen (Catena 22:166–199, 1994) (RSC) has been adopted collecting a series of detailed survey datasets along the entire watercourse. Following the path indicated by Simić et al. (Carpathian J Earth Environ Sci 9(4):19–30, 2014), adapted to the specific case, the whole hydrological and hydromorphological system has been assessed. For all the above reasons, San Lucano Valley could be proposed as a Hydrological Heritage Site “valuable” for geo-tourism in the Dolomite’s UNESCO Area 3.