An archaeological research project was recently started in the Alpine upland of Val di Sole (Trentino, Italy) to study the pastoral exploitation of mountain land and its relationships with landscape and environmental evolution. The project, called ALPES ("Alpine Landscapes: Pastoralism and Environment of Val di Sole"), has included the survey of two upland valleys (Val Molinac and Val Poré) and the identification of various sites and structures — enclosures, huts and rock-shelters — mostly related to shepherds. Detailed topographic survey and first stratigraphic tests were performed at the enclosure called MZ005S (2257 m altitude) sporadically used until the mid 20th century AD. The evidence collected suggest a long term human occupation of the area: stray prehistoric evidence was found; radiocarbon dates gave results to the 7th-8th and to the 15th century AD; and the assemblage collected indicates occupation of the site during the 16th-17th century AD. These first data provide insights on the use of the site, on the relationships between landscape evolution and human exploitation of the upland and on some aspects of the cultural and socio-economic context in the late medieval and early modern periods in this sector of the Alps.
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