Pliocene Geotourism: Innovative Projects for Valorizing the Paleontological Heritage of Three Different-Staged Quarries of Tuscany (Central Italy)

Abstract

Quarries are areas of pivotal importance for investigation, popularization, and educational purposes in the field of geosciences. Here, we focus on three quarries of Tuscany (La Serra, Arcille, and Certaldo) that have been home to significant finds of marine vertebrate fossils. The three selected localities are representative of the many active (La Serra), inactive (Arcille), and abandoned (Certaldo) Tuscan quarries where vertebrate-bearing Pliocene deposits are exposed. Given the richness and scientific value of their paleontological content (including holotypes as well as otherwise unique specimens), the abundance of exposed sedimentary structures, and the high potential for open-air musealization, the La Serra, Arcille, and Certaldo quarries should be regarded as geosites. These quarries are thoroughly described, and several suggestions for their preservation and valorization are proposed, focusing on their importance for geotourism, with the goal of reaching out to the broadest audience possible. Many innovative dissemination tools, including 3D technologies, are now available for pursuing such an aim.

Geotourism management for sustainable development of tourism: A bibliometric analysis of the main research areas and domains of knowledge

“…The results show the concern which has the protection and the policy development for geotourism development. Merella et al (2023) highlight the importance of the conservation of three quarries of Tuscany (La Serra, Arcille, and Certaldo) to enhance the tourism in the area. Besides, geotourism is also subject to planning that could lie behind in the context of tourism planning frameworks, community group initiatives, national park and protected area management plans and geopark management plans, local authority action plans (Newsome et al, 2012).…”

The Palaeobiology of the False Mako Shark, Parotodus benedenii (Le Hon, 1871): A View from the Pliocene Mediterranean Sea

“…Abundant remains of both marine and nonmarine vertebrates have been collected from several localities of the Valdelsa Basin [33][34][35][36][37][38][39][40][41][42][43][44][45][46][47]. In particular, the specimens discussed herein have been collected by one of us (SC) at two different Pliocene outcrops.…”

Reviewing the Palaeontological and Palaeoenvironmental Heritage of the Monti Pisani Massif (Italy): A Compelling History of Animals, Plants and Climates through Three Geological Eras

“…Conservation of the in situ palaeontological heritage of the Monti Pisani massif must face the plague of illegal collection of fossil materials. The Italian legislation (law n. 1089 of 1939 and "Codice dei Beni Culturali e del Paesaggio" of 2004) clearly states that all the fossils that originate from the national territory belong to the Italian state, such that their collection, private storing and trade are by no means allowed; nevertheless, illegal exploitation of fossiliferous outcrops by self-appointed fossil hunters is a widespread phenomenon, and Tuscany makes no exception [119]. Such an uncontrolled collecting activity has left its permanent scars at several palaeontological localities of the Monti Pisani area, to the point that their scientific, geotouristic and educational value has been greatly diminished.…”

“…Although several of the studied localities fall within the borders of natural protected areas, most of which belong to the "ANPIL" (="Aree Naturali Protette di Interesse Locale", namely, "Natural Protected Areas of Local Interest") system [120], there is no indication whatever that this has any beneficial effect in providing these sites with extra protection. In this context, a campaign of drone-based photogrammetric acquisition of 3D models of the fossil-bearing outcrops of the Monti Pisani area may prove precious for archiving digital reconstructions of the palaeontological localities as they appear today, as well as for monitoring their evolution through time [119]. In 2014, the MSNUP inaugurated an open-air naturalistic route (the so-called "Agnano Ring") that provides a window into the geodiversity and biodiversity of the surroundings of the Agnano village, along the southwestern margin of the Monti Pisani massif, where several palaeontological localities concentrate.…”