The Palu di Livenza is situated in a large natural basin, in between of Caneva and Polcenigo in the Province of Pordenone: this is an area of great value from the point of view of nature, characterized by the peculiar geomorphology, the abundant presence of water due to the two sources of the river Livenza and the richness of its flora and fauna.

The archaeological importance , already known in the first half of the nineteenth century , was recognized only since 1965 , when a drainage canal was excavated in the center of the basin and allowed to collect numerous prehistoric materials.
Investigations were started since 1981 and continue until the end of the 90s of last century , bringing to light the remains of a Neolithic pile-dwelling village, dating from about 4.500 and 3.600 BC, which is still largely intact in the basin. Despite the changes that occurred over time, Palu retains an extraordinary deposit for prehistoric archeology and the study of the transformation of the environment and climate over the past 15,000 years. The evidence suggests that in fact it is one of the most important prehistoric sites of Friuli Venezia Giulia and potentially among the most interesting of northern Italy.
Moreover, its geographical location places it in a prominent position to understand the relationships with the prehistoric groups of neighboring Austria and Slovenia.

Since June 2011, the Palu has been included in the list of UNESCO World Heritage in the series of Prehistoric Pile Dwellings around the Alpine area along with 18 other Italian places distributed in Piedmont, Lombardy, Veneto and the Autonomous Province of Trento.

It is a transnational serial site that covers the territory of Switzerland, Austria, France, Germany, Italy and Slovenia, and includes a selection of 111 dwelling villages in Europe considered the most interesting or significant of the Alpine area. The Palu is the only location in Friuli Venezia Giulia included in the series of dwelling villages, making it a component of the transnational serial site . The Superintendence for Archaeological Heritage directs the research and protection of the site. The inscription on the UNESCO list is the best way to protect the prehistoric remains still present in the basin, but also an opportunity to study this particular form of human settlement that is the result of adaptation to a specific habitat natural.

Wetlands are areas of extraordinary biological diversity, but also highly vulnerable because of changes caused by humans. Only in the last 50 years, nearly half of the world’s wetlands have been lost, reducing biodiversity and the number of living species.

In the temperate climate that characterizes our region, there are no areas so rich in species such as the marshes, and the reason for this lies in the high productivity of plant biomass that is often associated with a high level of diversification of plant and animal species where space is limited.

The wetlands of the Alpine area have been lightly used in the past, after the phases of employment during the course of prehistory, they lost interest over time, because they were considered unhealthy areas, sources of diseases, and unsuitable for crops.

Only the nineteenth century with the development of land reclamation and industrial extraction of peat as a fuel or fertilizer, wetlands began to be re-visited and acquired a new interest, as places of agricultural activity or retrieval of raw material.

The initiation of these activities allowed to discover the first prehistoric dwelling villages, but at the same time produced significant changes in the characteristic natural environment with the partial or total destruction of many archaeological sites until then almost intact.

In our days, wetlands and archaeological sites that are found in them, continue to be threatened by other causes: erosion, dredging and land reclamation, urban works, landfills, etc. By the time we changed our way of thinking about these areas , although they are regressing in number and extent.

The wetlands are no longer perceived as unhealthy and dangerous places, but as an exceptional natural and environmental heritage to protect and to promote as important destinations of cultural tourism.

The interest in these areas is of course enhanced by the presence of prehistoric settlements, that make these places historical and archaeological archives of great importance.

The Palù environment, is a place of great natural interest for the presence of plants such as larch trees, alders, poplars, willows, for the different species of birds that nest or simply stay temporarily in its territory, for small and big mammals that frequent it during the year and, ultimately, for the insects of all types that populate it. The biological richness of Palù makes this area an important refuge for many species since that aquatic environments are unfortunately deteriorating in many areas of northern Italy.

The Palu was until 1837 a large swamp produced by the spring waters of the river Livenza. From this date began the reclamation of the area that has continued to this day and have transformed the original marshy environment , while preserving the characteristics of the wetland.

The area is situated on a large natural depression closed between the limestone hills of Mount Cansiglio and the low hills that separate it from the floodplain.

The Livenza river originates from three sources fed by water that seeps through the mountains above : Santissima, Molinetto or Livenzetta , and Gorgazzo . The first two, which characterize the landscape of Palu, are perennial, while the third, placed outside the basin is semi-permanent.
The amount and level of the waters that flow from these sources are significantly affected by the rains and this, in times of great lack of water, can leave completely dry the river Gorgazzo or can flood large areas of the basin in the case of long periods of rain.
The river Livenza comes from Palu through a passage in the north-east between Colle Longone and Colle del Conte.

From the area south of the ancient center of Polcenigo the river flows in the Venetian plain, continuing its course to the sea where it flows not far from Caorle. The constant flow rate and the high water level of Livenza distinguish it from other rivers and this has favored since ancient times its good navigability, providing an important waterway of communication between the coast and inland areas.

UNESCO is an institution of the United Nations which has the task of protecting the world heritage recognized on the basis of some universal values ​​, considered particularly significant for the whole of humanity. To be included in the list, the selected sites must have some standards of excellence and possess at least one of the ten criteria listed in the 1972 Convention.

The criteria chosen for the series of the Prehistoric Pile Dwellings around the Alpine area are essentially two:

1. The fourth criterion that considers specific types of buildings, architectural, technological or landscape complexes which illustrate significant stages in human history: the series is in fact one of the most important archaeological sources for the study of early agricultural societies and its transformations in alpine regions over the course of about 4000 years.
2. The fifth criterion refers to examples of human settlement patterns, or human interaction with the environment, particularly when it appears vulnerable and subject to the impact of climate change.

The admission in the list of UNESCO aims to protect archaeological sites: it requires Member States to the development of programs for management, monitoring and active intervention for the protection of cultural property registered. Experience has shown that, without adequate protective measures, many prehistoric pile-dwelling sites are at risk of destruction.

 The inclusion on the list also provides a mark of excellence that enhances awareness of uniqueness in the world of listed sites, creating a driving force for the development of cultural tourism and an opportunity to learn about places, sometimes not very well known to the local people themselves.

The prehistoric pile dwellings are an “invisible cultural heritage”: their potential emerges only from scientific excavations and detailed analysis of the numerous remains found, unlike all the other monuments that form the UNESCO World Heritage.

The inscription means a great support for the efforts made ​​by the various Countries of the Alps to preserve this heritage. The dwelling villages are very important for understanding the development of the most ancient European civilization, constituting the testimony not only of a particular pattern of use of the land and its resources, but above all of cultural forms well adapted to natural environments such as wetlands are the Alpine region.