Marginal Landscapes and Production Processes along the River Valleys of the Rhine and Bisenzio-Sieve during the 1st Millennium BC

APENNINESCAPE explores the dynamics between human settlements, natural resources, and landscape in the Northern Apennines, with a particular focus on the valley districts of the Reno, Bisenzio, and Sieve rivers. The reference period is the 1st millennium BC, a time when Etruscan communities in the Po and Arno Valleys played a crucial role in the socio-political development of the region. Environmental resources were utilized in various ways to support urban, agricultural, and productive development, shaping social and political structures over time. These resources included water, minerals, fertile land, and timber, each critical for daily living and economic activities such as agriculture, metallurgy, and construction. The strategic exploitation of these resources led to the growth of settlements and the establishment of trade networks, contributing to economic prosperity and the expansion of territorial control. Moreover, control over valuable resources often translated into political power, influencing the hierarchy and dynamics within and between communities. Today, natural resources are at the center of a debate involving sustainable management and landscape conservation. APENNINESCAPE not only investigates the past but also offers reflection on the role that territorial resources continue to play in building and conserving communities. It invites a rethinking of the relationship between humans and nature in terms of sustainability and resilience for future generations. This approach emphasizes the importance of learning from historical land-use patterns and resource management to inform contemporary practices.