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T The paper addresses the long-lasting human presence on the island of Stromboli, an active volcano at the northern edge of the Aeolian archipelago, in the Southern Tyrrhenian sea, Italy. A conceptual model has been built to explore the phenomenon, it takes into account a series of aspects comparing Stromboli to other islands: their morphology, natural resources and geography along with the archaeological and historical data and, further, human attitude to volcanic environments, to risk and to insularity has been deeply explored. We propose a complex narrative where a combination of geological, socio-economic, historical, and psychological factors influenced people’s choices and that human presence is related more to the volcanic (and island) environment (and opportunities) than to volcanic activity.

The results of a geochemical survey on thermal waters and, for the first time for this site, gas discharges in five geothermal sites (Azacualpa “La Cueva”, Rio Ulua, Rio Gualcarque, El Olivar and Laguna de Agua Caliente) in NW Honduras are here presented and discussed. El Olivar and Laguna de Agua Caliente, in the southern part of the Sula graben are very close to a Quaternary basaltic field, whereas Azacualpa “La Cueva”, Rio Ulua and Rio Gualcarque, located to the southwest of the Yojoa Lake, direcly emerge from the Cretaceous limestone deposits. The measured temperatures range between 37.5 and 104.8 °C. “Mature”, alkaline, Na-SO 4 thermal waters discharge from Azacualpa “La Cueva”, while those from El Olivar and Laguna de Agua Caliente are “immature” and show a Na-HCO 3 composition. Chemical equilibria of waters and gases from the Azacualpa “La Cueva” thermal springs indicate temperatures ranging from 150 to 200 °C. Conversely, gas discharges from El Olivar and Laguna de Agua Caliente have attained a partial chemical equilibrium in the liquid phase at slightly higher temperatures (200–250 °C), although gas–gas faster reactions involving CO seem to be adjusted in an isothermally separated vapor phase. Unlike Azacualpa, SiO 2 geothermometer at El Olivar and Laguna de Agua Caliente indicates equilibrium temperatures for the liquid phase much lower than those calculated for the gas phase (≤ 120 °C). We conclude that thermal waters from the Azacualpa area likely represent the direct emergence of a water dominated reservoir having temperatures ≤ 150–200 °C. By contrast, at El Olivar and Laguna de Agua Caliente hot springs are supplied by a boiling shallow aquifer fed by a vapor phase rising from a steam-dominated zone. The above geochemical model is consistent with a geothermal reservoir hosted within the Cretaceous carbonate sequences of the Yojoa Group in the whole investigated sites. The reservoir extensively crops out in the Azacualpa area whereas the geothermal sites of the southern Sula graben (Laguna de Agua Caliente and El Olivar) are covered by the Oligocene–Miocene volcano–sedimentary sequences of the Matagalpa formation, possibly acting as efficient impermeable cap rocks. These results significantly differ from those reported by previous studies and emphasize that the southern Sula graben, in particular the El Olivar area, can represent among the investigated thermal springs, the most promising site for the exploitation of a high-enthalpy geothermal field.

This paper focuses on the site of San Vincenzo, Stromboli, Italy, and the use of the portable X-Ray Fluorescence analyser (p-XRF) in the field, as a fast and efficient means of geochemical data collection and processing, without the need to remove a sample. The purpose of the exercise is to aid the archaeological enquiry and to attempt to tie archaeological deposits and their chronology with the natural bedrock (i. e. scoriae and lapilli). We conclude that throughout the Bronze Age phase of the settlement the chemical make-up of the archaeological deposits is drawn largely from the lapilli-rich deposits which were formed after the end of the Neostromboli period, punctuated with those drawn from the scoriaceous lava that preceded the lapilli phase at the end of the same period. On the other hand, the post-BA deposits are geochemically different, pointing to new eruptive events. Our on-going work aims to systematically assess and compare the information that derives from each of the different disciplines involved - archaeology, geology, geochemistry and volcanology - in an attempt to reveal site formation processes and the anthropogenic activities within.

The geothermal area of Rio Valdez is located in the central portion of the Isla Grande de Tierra del Fuego (South Argentina), ten kilometers south of the southeastern sector of the Fagnano Lake. It consists of a series of thermal springs with low discharge rates (≤1L/s) and temperatures in the range of 20-33°C distributed in an area of

An ongoing archaeological investigation at Stromboli shows a complex pattern of human occupation of the north eastern sector of the island (San Vincenzo plateau), which allowed an excellent strategic control of the southern Tyrrhenian sea. This interdisciplinary project focus on the stratigraphic sequences, formation processes, artifacts, raw materials and circulation networks. We aim at building a chronological framework integrating archeological, volcanological and historical studies with several methods of absolute chronology (14C, archaeomagnetic and cross-datings). First human occupation of Stromboli is attested by the presence of some prehistoric shards of the Spatarella facies, dated 3500 BC (late Neolithic-early Eneolithic). More abundant remnants of this phase are recorded in the opposite side of the island (Ginostra). Main archaeological evidences are related to a Bronze Age village characterized by rounded huts with stone walls (organized on several terraces) built upon lavas and scoriae dated by archeomagnetism at 6.2 ka ago. It is worth to note these lavas are directly covered by the pyroclastics of the “Secche di Lazzaro” eruption occurred, at ca. 6 ka ago. Artifacts belong to the Capo Graziano facies (Early to Middle Bronze Age 1-2): decorated and undecorated handmade burnished pottery and some imports from the Aegean. The 14C datings of more than 20 layers show a range between 2290- 1475 BC (2 sigma cal. age) attesting for a long lasting human occupation. Radiocarbon datings also show that the settlement of San Vincenzo started at the beginning of Capo Graziano I, with a significant presence during the early periods. The typological variability of the local and the Mycenaean pots seems to confirm this chronology. After the Bronze Age period there are no evidence of human activity on Stromboli, whereas other islands of the Aeolian Archipelago were occupied until the end of the Middle Bronze (1300 BC) or Final Bronze (900 BC; Lipari) Age. New life on Stromboli is attested during the classical phases: a Greek necropolis (320-250 BC) and Roman late Imperial age evidence (II-IV AD). A well preserved, up to 10-15 cm thick, purplish to black layered fallout deposit was discovered in the excavation, covering a channel containing green glazed pottery dated XIV-XV century AD. An origin from a Stromboli paroxysm during the XVI century is strongly supported by three 14C dated charcoals (1325-1520 AD, 2 sigma cal. age) from the layers immediately below the ash fallout. Some authors suggested 1558 for a Stromboli paroxysm but this is not strengthened by historic accounts (e.g. Tommaso Fazello).