Abstract

Although the Calabria region in southern Italy experienced Quaternary uplift, intense Holocene subsidenceis documented at ancient Sybaris, one of the most powerful among the Greek colonies collectively knownas Magna Greacia. Sybaris flourished along the Ionian Sea coast of north-eastern Calabria since 2.7 ka BPand until the end of the Roman empire, when it went progressively concealed below the ground. Study ofthe Latest PleistoceneeHolocene evolution of this area involved analysis of the relative sea-level history forindividual borehole logs, based on re-calibration of published ages and stipulation of nominal sea-levelpositions related to each marker. For investigation of the short-term evolution, a novel compilation ofgeological and archaeological sea-level markers was supported by new radiometric ages. Appraisal of theposition of dated markers, when compared to a sea-level curve built on purpose for this coast using anupdated glacio-hydro-isostatic model, indicates a locally intense difference in vertical motion betweenboreholes located away from, or close to, the ancient town. Specifically, whereas data from the basement ofthe archaeological layers document large subsidence, more distant sites behaved differently. A site w2 kmto the NW of the settlement was apparently stable throughout the Holocene, and a site w6 km to the SEexperienced uplift at w1.5mm/y since 0.6 ka BP. In addition, analysis reveals temporal changes in subsidencepattern in the archaeological area. Large (5e6 mm/y) Early Holocene subsidence at Sybaris slowed tow1.5mm/y during the middle part of the Holocene. The slowing-down trend continued during and afterhistorical occupation at w0.8 mm/y, a value similar to the long-term (35e40 ka BP) rate established fromthe deepest borehole samples. These data are interpreted as suggesting that sediment compaction affectedthe basement of Sybaris during the Early Holocene, and progressively ceased during historical times, whena tectonic signal prevailed. During historical time, the spatial difference in vertical motion is chieflyattributed to differential growth of nearby folds documented by morpho-tectonic studies on-land andseismic profiles analysis in the offshore of Sybaris. Whereas location above a syncline caused tectonicsubsidence at Sybaris, the regions to the north and south record stability or uplift that reflects transition togrowing anticlines. In the short term (1e10 ka scale), these local tectonic processes prevail over theregional uplift pattern, which is expressed at the 100 ka scale or over.

Autore Pugliese

• Pagliarulo Rosa

Tutti gli autori

• Ferranti L. ; Pagliarulo R. ; Antonioli F.; Randisi A.

Titolo volume/Rivista

Quaternary international

Anno di pubblicazione

2011

ISSN

1040-6182

ISBN

Non Disponibile

Numero di citazioni Wos

Nessuna citazione

Ultimo Aggiornamento Citazioni

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Numero di citazioni Scopus

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Ultimo Aggiornamento Citazioni

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Settori ERC

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Codici ASJC

Non Disponibile