How Excavation Activity is both a Blessing and a Curse for the Palaeontological Heritage: The Case Study of the Fossils from the “Lastame” in the Verona Province (Northern Italy)

Abstract Among cultural heritage, fossils are one of the most “neglected” goods, especially in Italy, both for unawareness by the public and for economic interests due to excavation activity. The Cretaceous sedimentary rocks of the Lessini Mountains, especially the “lastame” stone quarries of the surroundings of Sant’Anna d’Alfaedo (Verona province, Italy), hold some of the most important marine vertebrate findings of northern Italy and many invertebrates. All these findings were possible thanks to the extensive quarrying activity present in those mountains for the extraction of the “lastame” (or “Prun Stone”), responsible for a high fraction of the local income of many activities. Unfortunately, partly due to National Cultural Heritage Laws, quarrymen are not incentivised to contact authorities or palaeontologists when they find some valuable findings for fear of a halt to the excavation activity, harmful to their profit. It is not uncommon to see fossils destroyed or lost, thereby harming the palaeontological heritage of the region and hampering scientific research. Herein, we present a risk management proposal for better securing the palaeontological heritage of the “lastame” with analyses of vulnerability, the magnitude of risks, and possible solutions.