The telling of Venice Lagoon sediments

The Venice Lagoon originated between 10000 and 5000 years ago and the history of its evolution is contained within sediments deposited over the millennia. Th e sediments accumulation rate varies from 1.1 mm year-1 over the fi rst millennia to 0.5 mm year-1 over the last 1500 years. During their deposition, the sediments incorporated natural materials and anthropogenic finds that, with their absolute ages, mark the times of the migration of the coasts towards the sea and the expansion of the lagoon on its continental margin, indicating tthe evolution of environmental changes. However, over time, natural evolution has also had to deal with the needs related to the urbanization of the area, giving rise to different results. In this paper a few examples are provided in the central and southern lagoon showing that human choices have been able, in the past, to modify or even reverse the natural evolution of the lagoon. However, human interventions can also encounter insurmountable limits. A future for the lagoon is possible only if interventions can counteract the current trend.