Search

Shrinking of intermontane basins and expansion of their flanking ranges by reverse faulting and backthrusting in two counter-dipping systems is a typical mechanism of crustal shortening and mountain building in Central Asia. This mechanism is realized along the Kurai Fault Zone (southeastern Gorny Altai). Motions on two reverse fault systems maintained thrusting of the Kurai Range and the Kubadru Uplift on the Kurai Basin sediments and caused the growth of a foreberg before the mountain front. Forberg separates narrow Aktash Basin from the Kurai Basin. The paleoearthquakes were generated by reverse faults that delineate the foreberg. Analysis of the QuickBird satellite images, drone imagery, trenching, archaeoseismological research, radiocarbon dating, dendrochronology, and previous results show that eleven large (МW = 6.5–7.6) paleoearthquakes left traces as surface ruptures along the Kurai Fault Zone: twice before 7.5 ka BP, three events between 7.5 and 5.9 ka BP (7.0, 6.3, and 5.9–5.8 ka BP), one from 5.8 to 4.6 ka BP, four more at 4.6, 3.2, 1.5, and 1.3–1.2 ka BP, and the ultimate earthquake no older than 1450–1650 AD. The time difference between large earthquakes was from 200 to 1700 years. Surface faulting occurred mainly along the northern border of the foreberg where fault scarps are progressively younger northward and the Cenozoic sediments of the Aktash Basin thus become involved into uplift. GPR data to a depth of 12 m confirm the complex structure and slip geometry of the observed surface ruptures. The fault scarps are located < 1 km from the planned route of the gas pipeline from Russia to China, and the potential seismic hazard has to be taken into account in its design and construction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Roman town of Ostia offers a unique opportunity to study a wide range of structural damage affecting different types of ancient buildings. In the Piccolo Mercato, potential seismic effects are visible in the masonry walls and in some of the masonry pillars that in ancient times supported an arcade. This paper, with the aim of providing insight into the causes of the observed damage on one of these pillars, reports and discusses some results of an interdisciplinary study. The damaged pillar under consideration, in particular, is today broken with the upper part rotated about 12 degrees counterclockwise from the lower part. Numerical simulations of this pillar have been performed using finite element models, and incremental nonlinear time-history analyses were carried out for quite a large number of seismic input ground motions. From the obtained results, it appears that a rotation, similar to that exhibited by the upper part of the pillar, can be attributed to seismic action with Peak Ground Acceleration (PGA) values ranging from medium to high. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates the impact of the earthquakes that occurred in the first half of the 3rd millennium BCE on Western Anatolian settlements, aiming to determine the dates of the earthquakes that happened during the prehistoric period using the earthquake layers of the settlements and associated C14 data. The focus of the paper is the investigation of the effects of two earthquakes that occurred in the region during the first half of the 3rd millennium BCE on the settlements of the region. The first earthquake occurred around 2800 BCE and damaged settlements in the area of İzmir. Evidence of this damage is provided by traces of fire and destruction in the archaeological layers. In addition to the building materials and techniques of the period, the common use of side walls of buildings 25 m in length and their construction in blocks increased the destructive effects of earthquakes. In the wake of earthquakes, some structural changes were made, and the masons of the period tried to take measures against earthquakes by using new construction techniques. The earthquakes of the first quarter of the 3rd millennium BCE may have caused political turmoil in Western Anatolia, as they had the potential to create social unrest. The earthquakes that hit the İzmir region in the first half of the 3rd millennium BCE led to the abandonment of settlements, a reduction in the sizes of settlements, or changes in social organisation. In this paper, the earthquake layers of Bakla Tepe and Liman Tepe, which contain the oldest archaeological earthquake remains found to date in Western Anatolia, are analysed in detail for the first time. Highlighting the importance of archaeological data, this paper also offers new perspectives for understanding the profound and permanent impacts that natural disasters had on ancient societies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Roman town of Ostia offers a unique opportunity to study a wide range of structural damage affecting different types of ancient buildings. In the Piccolo Mercato, potential seismic effects are visible in the masonry walls and in some of the masonry pillars that in ancient times supported an arcade. This paper, with the aim of providing insight into the causes of the observed damage on one of these pillars, reports and discusses some results of an interdisciplinary study. The damaged pillar under consideration, in particular, is today broken with the upper part rotated about 12 degrees counterclockwise from the lower part. Numerical simulations of this pillar have been performed using finite element models, and incremental nonlinear time-history analyses were carried out for quite a large number of seismic input ground motions. From the obtained results, it appears that a rotation, similar to that exhibited by the upper part of the pillar, can be attributed to seismic action with Peak Ground Acceleration (PGA) values ranging from medium to high.

The ancient city of Pompeii, destroyed by the 79 CE Plinian eruption of Vesuvius, is one of the most famous archaeological sites worldwide and an open-air laboratory for many disciplines. The destruction of Pompeii has so far been reconstructed in terms of a succession of volcanic phenomena and related effects, identified as the accumulation of pumice lapilli on roofs and dynamic pressure exerted by pyroclastic currents on buildings, and neglecting the potential effects of the syn-eruptive seismicity, the occurrence of which is beautifully described by an erudite eyewitness to the catastrophe, Pliny the Younger. During a recent excavation in the Insula dei Casti Amanti, in the central part of Pompeii, the peculiar evidence of building collapses, that overwhelmed two individuals, has been uncovered. The multidisciplinary investigation, involving archaeology, volcanology, and anthropology, gathered information on the construction technique of the masonry structures, the volcanological stratigraphy, the traumatic pattern of bone fractures of the skeletons, along with the detection of the wall displacements, that led to archaeoseismological considerations. The merging of the data has highlighted the need of an updated perspective in the assessment of the damage at Pompeii during the 79 CE eruption, by considering the syn-eruptive seismicity as a factor contributing to the destruction of the city and death of the inhabitants. By comparing the attitude and characteristics of different types of damage, and after ruling out any other possible damaging event, our conclusions point to the occurrence of syn-eruptive earthquake-induced failures of masonry structures. The structural collapses, based on our stratigraphic and volcanological data, are chronologically consistent with the beginning of the caldera-forming phase of the eruption which was accompanied by strong seismic shocks. The crush injuries of the skeletons of the two individuals are consistent with severe compression traumas and analogous to those shown by individuals involved in modern earthquakes testifying that, apart from other volcanic phenomena, the effects of syn-eruptive seismicity may be relevant. These outcomes lay the foundation for a more extensive study concerning the assessment of the contribution of the syn-eruptive seismic destruction at Pompeii and open new perspectives for volcanological, archaeoseismological and paleopathological studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Archaeoseismology is a field of science that investigates the remains of ancient human structures of destructive earthquakes that occurred in their ancient history and in this respect makes inferences on the possible effects of earthquakes whose origins will be may occurred in the future. Although many authors wrote the effects of ancient earthquakes in various periods, the first modern archaeoseismology studies in the world gain momentum starting from the end of the 19th century at the same time with Türkiye. In this understanding, the geography of Anatolia (Asia Minor), which has hosted a wide variety of cultural layers since its Mesolithic end, is an open-air research laboratory for modern archaeoseismological studies. This study is a reference work that summarizes the historical past of the discipline of archaeoseismology chronologically in the perspective of studies on Earth and Anatolia, presents suggestions about the future of archaeoseismology and is a literature summary for the new generation of archaeoseismologists. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Archaeoseismological research often deals with two unresolved questions: the magnitude and level of damage caused by past earthquakes, and the precise location of the seismic source. We propose a comprehensive review of an integrated approach that combines site effects with the analysis of geochemical data in the field of archaeoseismology. This approach aims to identify active buried faults potentially related to the causative seismic source and provide insights into earthquake parameters. For each integrated method, we report the foundational principles, delineation of theoretical field procedures, and exemplification through two case studies. Site effects analysis in archaeoseismology assumes a pivotal role in unraveling historical seismic occurrences. It enables estimating the earthquake magnitude, assessing the seismotectonic patterns, and determining the resulting damage level. Valuable data related to earthquake parameters can be extracted by analyzing vibration frequencies and acceleration measurements from structures within archaeological sites. This information is instrumental in characterizing seismic events, evaluating their impact on ancient structures, and enhancing our understanding of earthquake hazards within the archaeological context. Geochemical investigations supply indispensable tools for identifying buried active faults. The analysis of fluids and gases vented in proximity to faults yields valuable insights into their nature, activity, and underlying mechanisms. Faults often manifest distinctive geochemical imprints, enabling the differentiation between tectonically active and volcanically related fault systems. The presence of specific gases can further serve as indicators of the environmental conditions surrounding these fault networks. Integrating site effects analysis and geochemical investigations within archaeoseismological research is crucial to improving our understanding of unknown past earthquakes. Moreover, it enhances the seismic hazard assessment of the region under study.

Archaeoseismological research often deals with two unresolved questions: the magnitude and level of damage caused by past earthquakes, and the precise location of the seismic source. We propose a comprehensive review of an integrated approach that combines site effects with the analysis of geochemical data in the field of archaeoseismology. This approach aims to identify active buried faults potentially related to the causative seismic source and provide insights into earthquake parameters. For each integrated method, we report the foundational principles, delineation of theoretical field procedures, and exemplification through two case studies. Site effects analysis in archaeoseismology assumes a pivotal role in unraveling historical seismic occurrences. It enables estimating the earthquake magnitude, assessing the seismotectonic patterns, and determining the resulting damage level. Valuable data related to earthquake parameters can be extracted by analyzing vibration frequencies and acceleration measurements from structures within archaeological sites. This information is instrumental in characterizing seismic events, evaluating their impact on ancient structures, and enhancing our understanding of earthquake hazards within the archaeological context. Geochemical investigations supply indispensable tools for identifying buried active faults. The analysis of fluids and gases vented in proximity to faults yields valuable insights into their nature, activity, and underlying mechanisms. Faults often manifest distinctive geochemical imprints, enabling the differentiation between tectonically active and volcanically related fault systems. The presence of specific gases can further serve as indicators of the environmental conditions surrounding these fault networks. Integrating site effects analysis and geochemical investigations within archaeoseismological research is crucial to improving our understanding of unknown past earthquakes. Moreover, it enhances the seismic hazard assessment of the region under study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Cuaternario y Geomorfología is the property of Cuaternario y Geomorfologia and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

В 2021 г. выполнены археосейсмологические и геолого-геофизические исследования городища Казантип Восточный II и его окрестностей. В строительных остатках и естественном окружении городища выявлены и изучены как сейсмически наведённые, так и сейсмотектонические деформации, оставленные очагом сильного землетрясения. Сейсмический очаг вышел на поверхность в пределах городища в виде сейсмотектонического разрыва и сместил одну из его стен. Величина интенсивности сейсмических воздействий была не менее Io = 9 баллов по шкале МSК-64. Можно предположить, что на памятнике зафиксированы признаки выхода очага сильного землетрясения середины I в. до н. э. (63 г. до н. э.?).

The menhir of Locmariaquer lays in four fragments 200 m north of Locmariaquer (Morbihan, Brittany, France). Several hypotheses have been raised over time to explain its fall. This study discusses a potential earthquake origin and investigates the associated ground motion features. The historical seismicity and the current instrumental seismicity support the concept of an active seismic area. Soil and subsurface characterization highlights a complex site response. Several models of the menhir based on archaeological observations are proposed to simulate the dynamic response of the menhir. A ground motion selection from the European Strong Motion database is used as inputs. An earthquake scenario is compatible with the fall of the menhir. The associated Intensity Measures are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The most northeastern part of the territory of Bulgaria is characterized by high seismicity. In 2019, archeoseismological studies of traces of strong earthquakes were carried out in the oldest architectural monument in Europe -- Durankulak. There are reports of earthquakes in these places in the Middle Ages and in Antiquity, but the data on the location of their foci is unspecified. Therefore, a team of scientists from Bulgaria and Russia carried out special scientific research on the islands in Lake Durankulak. A large number of artifacts have been found on the Big Island. The ruins located there are very old and have fixed traces of seismic impacts that have occurred over a long period of time. As a result of paleoseismological and archaeoseismological studies, three major earthquakes have been identified. Most likely, the focus of the first is connected to the Intramysian fault, and the focus of the second and third to the Shabla-Kaliakra seismic zone. The first was between VIII and IX degree on the scale of MSK 64, the second between IX and X, the third also between VIII and IX degree on the same scale. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Arabian Peninsula is surrounded by seismically highly active plate margins, while the interior seems to be free from destructive earthquakes. We report two historical earthquakes in Qalhat, Oman, >300 km from any plate boundary and provide archaeoseismological analysis of ruined buildings. The first quake hit the city in 1497 AD with an intensity VII at most; the community survived and damage was repaired. The second event caused total devastation (intensity X-XI), sometime between 1580 and 1592. The city never recovered from the latter; it has been a field of ruins ever since. ShakeMap modeling yielded magnitude Mw 5.5 for the first and Mw 6.5–7.0 for the second earthquake. We suggest that the strike-slip Tiwi Fault or the reverse Qalhat Fault caused the first, while the reverse Qalhat Fault might have caused the second earthquake. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Interest in earthquakes in Mediterranean archaeology has distinct disciplinary origins. Since the inception of archaeoseismology--earthquake archaeology--in the 1980s, approaches to earthquake factors have been characterized by reliance on ancient historical sources. However, although texts have supported the identification of earthquake disasters in material destruction, documentary records extend far beyond particular events and experiences of disaster; diverse cultural perceptions of earthquakes as expressed in ancient textual sources also offer an alternative interpretation for Mediterranean archaeology. This study reviews the materialgeological record of Helike in Greece--the victim of an infamous major earthquake in 373 bc--in order to assess the impact of seismic activity on the site from the third millennium bc to the fifth century ad. Evidence for such an impact includes archaeoseismic types of destruction, anti-seismic construction in architecture and stratigraphically associated soil micromorphological evidence of seismically triggered soft sediment deformation structures (SSDS). A reassessment of ancient accounts of the 373 bc event to explore Graeco-Roman cultural perceptions of earthquakes provides a new interpretive frame for the material-geological record of Helike. This alternative interpretation repositions earthquakes, traditionally perceived as 'natural' disasters implicated in 'collapse' and 'catastrophe', as social phenomena. The case of Helike demonstrates the value of documentary records for reframing the complex social and political dimensions of recurrent earthquakes and persistent geological hazards. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The emergence of the "Ancient State" is considered an important stage in the discourse on human civilizations. Based on its complex and hierarchical social structure, the Shuanghuaishu site of Henan Province is regarded as an "Ancient state", specifically the "Heluo Ancient State". The site is situated in the middle reaches of the Yellow River region and played a key role in prehistoric China. However, the reasons behind its decline are unclear. Here, we conducted an integrated investigation of the archaeological excavations and archaeoseismic analyses at the Shuanghuaishu site. We identified paleoseismic remains within paleo-artificial moats, which were formed owing to off-fault structures of soil liquefaction, hillslope landslides, and related ground fractures, along with shake-related wall disruption and building collapse in the residential zone. Charcoal dating was conducted to constrain the age for this earthquake event, which was determined to be approximately 5.0 cal kyr BP. Furthermore, based on the practical curve for earthquake-induced liquefaction, the preliminary estimate of the magnitude of this paleoseismic event is greater than Ms5.9–6.0. We propose that the Shuanghuaishu site experienced a recession after the earthquake event, which may have influenced the continuous development of the "Heluo Ancient State" as a regional center settlement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Archeologia Medievale: Cultura Materiale, Insediamenti, Territorio is the property of All'Insegna del Giglio s.a.s. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The results obtained in additional archaeological and archeoseismological research within the limits of the settlement of Balandtepa and the Kirkhujra fortress once again prove that the ancient city of Eilatan perished in the 1st century BC. The city of Pap (Bab) was built no later than the end of the 6th–beginning of the 5th century BC on the site of the settlement of Kyrkhujra, which is located 2 km south of the modern city of Pap, on the right bank of the Syr Darya River. During this time, it was destroyed several times by floods and remained under mudflow deposits. After each flood, the city was almost completely rebuilt. The city on Kirkhujra was destroyed at the end of the 4th–beginning of the 5th century AD due to a very strong earthquake. After this seismic event, people left the territory of the destroyed city and built a new city on the Balandtepa monument located 1 km west of Kirkhujr. Additional information obtained about the unusual arrangement of detrital horizons in the talus (the tail of the destruction of the northern fortress wall of Balandtep) indicates that the wall was destroyed not by one, but by three strong earthquakes, which apparently occurred at the end of the 6th–beginning of the 7th centuries AD. During each subsequent earthquake, fragments of bricks flew off to ever greater distances with a decreasing height of the wall. It turns out that each subsequent seismic event was stronger than the previous one. Earthquakes of this sequence can only have a swarm or doublet nature, which is typical for a given territory. The Pap swarm of 1984, which occurred in this zone, and the Gazli earthquakes of 1976 and 1984 in the zone of the South Tien Shan seismogenic zone evidence this. At the same time, an analysis of archaeological materials shows that, at the beginning or the first quarter of the 8th century, there was some kind of natural cataclysm, as a result of which the owner of the citadel and the inhabitants of the shahristan (inner city) moved to the rabad (outer city). Their places were taken over by artisans, who worked there until the last quarter of the 8th century. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article is devoted to seismic deformations in the walls of the ancient structures of the settlement of Belinskoe on the Kerch Peninsula, a frontier fortress and city in the Bosporan Kingdom. One distinctive feature of this work is its combination of a field survey of the archaeological ruins of the ancient fortress, the study of archival archaeological materials, and field geophysical works in the territory of the fortress and its immediate surroundings. As a result of the similar—and in many respects unique for Crimean archeology—combined methods of field archeology, archaeoseismology, paleoseismology, seismotectonics, and geophysics, a complex seismic history of the site is revealed and previously unknown earthquakes are described, some of which are dated with an accuracy of half a decade. The archeological monument and the area around it have experienced a total of at least three catastrophic earthquakes. The first one with intensity IL ≥ IX on the MSK-64 scale occurred before the construction of the fortress (no earlier than the beginning of the 2nd century); its epicentral area was in the territory and in the area of the site. The second earthquake, with intensity IL ≥ IX MSK-64, occurred in the third quarter of the 3rd century. The settlement of Belinskoe was in the epicenter of the earthquake. It occurred either immediately after the destruction of the fortress during war at the end of the first construction period or it created the prerequisites for a military disaster. The third earthquake dates between 318 and 322 and coincides with the end of the second construction period of the settlement. The territory of the monument was in its epicentral area. The earthquake magnitude was M = 7.0(±0.5) and the intensity was IL ≥ IX MSK-64. This data can be used for a new assessment of the seismic hazard of the Crimean Peninsula. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Holy Cross Mountains are an intraplate range with a limited historical seismicity record. The only documented earthquakes include the February 6, 1837 M 4.3 event, which caused ground cracks, and swarm events from February 1932 (M ∼ 3.5), likely triggered by the Holy Cross Fault (HCF) or sub-perpendicular faults. The apparent lack of older destructive earthquakes in historical catalogs motivated us to conduct archaeoseismological research to improve seismic hazard assessment, risk mitigation, and urban planning strategies, ultimately benefiting local communities. We focused on the 12th-century Collegiate church of Saint Martin in Opatów, located near the Holly Cross Fault (HCF). We report numerous damage features, such as leaning, bulging, and twisted walls, dropped keystones in Romanesque and Gothic portals, strike-slip displacements of these portals, surplus, oversized buttresses, and walled-up portals. While some deformations may result from humid loess instability and war destructions, our data, combined with historical records, suggest two to three seismic events in the past 800 years as a cause. We argue these deformations were co-seismically triggered by either large far-field events, like the 1259 AD earthquake, or local, shallow small-magnitude events significantly amplified by site effects. This indicates potential seismic activity in the Holy Cross Mountains during Medieval times. The absence of historical records does not imply the absence of earthquakes. • Holy Cross Mountains have limited historical seismicity record. • Archaeoseismology of Saint Martin Church in Opatów reveals evidence of past seismic events. • Damage features suggest 2–3 earthquakes in the past 800 years near Opatów. • Historical seismicity includes far-field large earthquakes and local small-magnitude events. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Archaeoseismology is one of the four issues usually involved to increase the knowledge of seismic risk. The three other issues are seismic records, historical seismicity, and palaeoseismicity. Archaeoseismology was founded as a discipline in the 1980s. It was developed and methodologically defined during the 1990s and 2000s, and its new developments and perspectives are based on two procedures. First, the numerical field, with tools like the database OPUR (Outil Pour Unités de Réparation), “Tool For Reparation Units”, conceived as a sort of atlas, to collect and index all the types of repairs identified in the Roman site of Pompeii, in Italy. Second, the focus on the evolution of ancient buildings and their pathologies, serves as a basis for the structural modelling, carried out by engineers. It allows to understand the behaviour of ancient buildings during seismic motion, to quantify the impact of seismic effects on cultural heritage and to propose a method of preservation. Major studies conducted in France as well as recent developments in this field are presented, in order to illustrate this collaboration between archaeoseismologists and engineers for the preservation of cultural heritage.

The Shore Temple in Mahabalipuram (Tamil Nadu, Southern India) exists since the late 7th century. Historical sources suggest that it was built on an island in honour of the gods Vishnu and Shiva. A former bridge over the canal, which separated the island from the mainland, and a seawall, which protected the shore from the waves are dysfunctional now, as they are located too high above the present day sea level. A holy well, part of the temple complex, reaches down to the modern freshwater lens. We suggest that about 1 m uplift occurred after the construction of the temple, the canal and the seawall, but before the construction of the well. This event during the reign of King Rajasimhan in the early 8th century most likely was caused by an earthquake of magnitude M > 6.5 that led to the uplift of the island. There are thick walls of a ruined masonry building in the former, sand-filled canal, tilted in various directions. These are evidence for liquefaction of subsoil, caused by a second earthquake of intensity IX-X. The east coast of India has remained prone to destructive earthquakes: archaeoseismology proves to be useful tool which can help to identify these areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Devastated by two earthquakes in historical times (1650 and 1950 CE), the Cusco Basin is now characterized by dense and chaotic urbanization that makes it even more vulnerable. Unfortunately, the large recurrence intervals of the local crustal earthquakes, the shortness of the historical record (∼500 yr) and the persistent lack of palaeoseismological studies hamper considerably the seismic hazard assessment. In such context, the outstanding archaeological heritage of the Cusco area turns out to be a relevant marker of past seismic activity. We carried out a systematic archaeoseismological survey in nine Inca sites close to Cusco and registered almost 3,000 Earthquake Archaeological Effects. Thanks to a semi-quantitative approach, we show a clear anisotropic seismic deformation on the Inca fine stonework, consistent at the regional scale. In Cusco, the architecture exhibits the impact of two different and strong ancient seismic events (M.M. intensity > VII). By combining these results with the analysis of historical photographs, our work supports, the occurrence of an unreported event during Inca times (∼1400–1533 CE). More broadly, by providing new data on the destructive potential of past earthquakes, this study urges us to conduct further research on the faults near Cusco. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The archaeoseismological study of a number of contexts affected by historical earthquakes provides a more complete understanding of the seismic impacts had on architecture as well as restoration techniques used in the aftermath of these events. The PROTECT project is part of this line of research, funded by the Horizon 2020 research and innovation program of the European Union, and aims to apply, on an experimental basis, methods of archaeoseismological analysis to a portion of the historic center of Siena (Tuscany), in order to acquire further knowledge on the context of study from the point of view of seismic prevention. In this paper only the first steps of the project, begun in December 2021 and focused on the study of the Terzo di Città, are presented. The contribution focuses in particular on the proposal of a theoretical framework for the creation of a database designed to answer precise chrono-typological queries.

Featured Application: this work offers methods for the quantification of the deformation in Archaeoseismological scenarios using drone-based high-resolution 3D models. This study deals with the morphometric characterization and quantification of earthquake damage in the ancient Roman city of Baelo Claudia in South Spain (Gibraltar Arc) by means of the use of 3D modelling from drone imagery. Baelo Claudia is a world-renowned archaeological site recording recurrent earthquake destruction during the first and third centuries AD. The first earthquake destroyed the lower littoral zone of the city, allowing its reconstruction from the year c. 60–70 CE, but the second earthquake in 365–390 CE led to the complete destruction of the renewed city and its eventual abandonment. This second earthquake imprinted important deformations in the main monumental zone of the city, including the basilica temples, macellum, city walls, aqueducts and funerary monuments, as well as in the main paved zones of the city. This is the case for the Forum, Decumanus and Cardos, which show a variety of folds, pop-up structures, conjugate fractures and impact marks susceptible to be measured in a 3D format. The current study presents detailed (up to 3 mm/pixel) surface models of iconic monuments within the city. The 3D models were obtained by means of serial orthophotos taken with a UAV Mavic Pro 2 (DJI) Drone device equipped with a 20 mpx camera and a 1" CMOS sensor. Each individual image was captured in a geo-referenced jpg format and processed with the Agisoft Metashape Professional software®. Depending on the measured monument, the final images consisted of 250 to 700 photographs clustered by 50,000 to 150,000 tie points. In all studied items (Decumanus, city walls and bath dish), we follow the same workflow of analysis: (1) alignment of photos with support points; (2) building a dense cloud of points; (3) creation of the surface texture; (4) creation of the Digital Elevation Model (DEM); (5) creation of the orthomosaic; and finally, (6) the building of the high-quality 3D tiled surface models. The obtained models allow the geometric quantification of earthquake deformations (displacements, amplitudes, orientation, etc.) in a GIS-based 3D environment suitable to quantify oriented damage of seismic origin. In a complementary way, these 3D models deserve to be considered for their potential role as digital seismoscopes of ancient archaeological sites and/or heritage buildings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Within the framework of an archaeoseismological project in Ostia (Italy), this paper discusses archaeological evidence of historic seismic damage of one of the arcade pillars in a building originally used as a warehouse for goods - “Piccolo Mercato” - located in the North-West part of the archaeological site. This interdisciplinary study is aimed at providing an interpretation of the detected damage by performing some numerical simulations. One of the pillars was represented by a finite element (FE) model, considering natural ground motion records. FE model allowed to conduct complete nonlinear time-history analyses. The results cross-validate the already provided interpretation of the historic damage, and suggest a possible dateline.

Abstract—The ruins of Odessos are located on the territory of Varna, Bulgaria. Archaeoseismological studies carried out at the archaeological sites of ancient Odessos revealed some significant damage and destruction in the ancient building constructions. These are numerous breaks, tilts, protrusions and turns of wall parts, longitudinal asymmetric deformation of the above-entrance arch, lateral in plan bending of the extended wall, outward knock-out of the stone blocks and intensive cracking. We attributed traces of subsequent shoddy repairs, which sometimes involved using single expensive stone blocks taken out of the ruins, as circumstantial evidence of strong earthquakes that had occurred here. Interestingly, medieval builders already knew about the possibility of strong earthquakes in the region and put wooden longitudinal beams in the walls to absorb vertical seismic vibrations. The degree of destruction and damage in medieval buildings built on loose fill soils increased due to subsidence. Archaeological research established 6 periods of construction in ancient Odessos: Using this periodization, we calculated the age of past seismic events: (1) around the 1st century A.D.—the destruction of the Late Hellenistic fortress wall; (2) the early 5th century—the early 6th century (a cluster of at least 3 strong earthquakes, judging also by deformations in the Bishop's Basilica of Odessos (Minchev et al., 2020)): dismantling of the fortress wall, discontinued use of both thermae. The gate of Odessos remains in operation after repairs. There is low quality construction of houses. Accumulation of tile debris; (3) the destruction of the Orthodox church in the 1444 earthquake. We were able to determine the average direction of the maximum aggregate seismic movements that destroyed the large and small thermae, as well as the excavated segment of the fortress wall and the Odessos gate complex. They propagated along the WNW-ESE axis, most likely from the Shabla-Kaliakra seismogenic zone. The deformations of the 13th-century Orthodox church were caused by seismic vibrations that propagated in the submeridional direction from one of the seismically active faults south or north of Varna, although they may have been affected by ground subsidence. Thus, as a result of the studies, we were able to detect traces of yet unknown strong earthquakes, to determine their age and direction to the ancient epicentral zones. The intensity of seismic vibrations during all these earthquakes was Il = VIII—IX MSK-64. The data obtained can be used to improve the seismic hazard assessment of Varna and NE Bulgaria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reduced 1/20 and 1/40 models of the Baalbek columns were subjected to harmonic excitations of varying amplitudes and periods to investigate rocking and overturning. 2D UDEC numerical simulations and a simple critical impulse theoretical model showed good agreement with the experimental results. The similitude established between models and full-size columns can be used to predict the response of full-sized columns to earthquakes through experimental simulation and numerical modeling. The observed mode of overturning and number of blocks overturned could be used to estimate the period and peak acceleration of the critical impulses contained in earthquake signals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Archeologia dell'Architettura is the property of Edizioni all'Insegna del Giglio and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The archaeoseismological study of a number of contexts affected by historical earthquakes provides a more complete understanding of the seismic impacts had on architecture, as well as restoration techniques used in the aftermath of these events. The PROTECT project is part of this line of research, funded by the Horizon 2020 research and innovation program of the European Union, and aims to apply, on an experimental basis, methods of archaeoseismological analysis to a portion of the historic center of Siena (Tuscany), in order to acquire further knowledge on the context of study from the point of view of seismic prevention. In this paper only the first steps of the project, begun in December 2021 and focused on the study of the Terzo di Città, are presented. The contribution focuses in particular on the proposal of a theoretical framework for the creation of a database, linked to a GIS platform, designed to answer precise chrono-typological queries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The working methods of Roman builders confirm the advanced knowledge of consolida- tion and repair techniques, so much so that quite a few of their buildings are still con- sidered stable without undergoing further interventions. For those ancient structures that have collapsed, signs of destructive events remain, allowing a chronology of events to be reconstructed, as in the ancient Roman port of Ostia. The impression given by the excava- tions in Ostia regarding the causes and dynamics of collapse, which affected both ordinary and monumental buildings, is that of a center which, in addition to natural degradation due to progressive abandonment and the ravages of man, suffered the concomitant dis- astrous effects of several natural disasters. Therefore, the contribution focuses on some structural analysis results and two seismic measurement campaigns carried out in the archaeoseismological field to understand the causes and modes of collapse that affected several building structures.

In the present work, only some of the results obtained from a comparative analysis of the known seismological data and the data from the new archaeoseismological studies are described. Earthquake deformations have been found on structures from the earliest (Eneolithic) era, to effects on better-preserved medieval archaeological sites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The information and seismic parameters gained from pre-instrumental earthquakes are essential to improve the seismic catalogs and hazard studies. The earthquake damage (ED) that affected architectonic elements during earthquakes (e.g. fallen walls, conjugated fractures in walls, dropped keystones in arches), and when this earthquake damage is orientated (EDO), can be used to infer seismic parameters of pre-instrumental earthquakes such as epicenter location, seismogenic source or ground motion. However, there is not a common methodology to measure this orientation damage. For example, tilting and fallen walls are some of the most used elements to infer the horizontal ground motion in non-instrumental earthquakes. Nevertheless, according to the shape of the architectonic element (a wall in this case), it has only two degrees of freedom to fall, and therefore, its azimuth does not necessarily fit with the ground motion pulse orientation. In this work, a review of the earthquake damage (ED) and effects described in pre-instrumental earthquakes is carried out. A method is also proposed, considering not only the frequency of damage orientations but also considering the uncertainty angle of each element to be damage. The ED has been classified into five groups according to the angle of uncertainty to record the pulse orientation. This method has been checked taking advantage of recent earthquakes with a good instrumental record of the ground motion pulse, and also tested modeling different scenarios with different pulse orientations. This method, that takes into account the uncertainty angles, is a reliable method to calculate the EDO and back-calculate the ground motion pulse orientation in pre-instrumental earthquakes in absence of more accurate modern instrumental records. This method can also be useful for seismic risk assessment and restoration and protection of historical heritage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We have conducted a complex of archaeoseismological works in the ancient town of Myrmekion, which belonged to the Bosporan Kingdom (Crimea). Numerous instances of destruction and deformation of buildings were revealed in archeological excavations: ruptures displacing walls, significant tilt of entire walls of the buildings, and rotations of wall fragments and individual stones around the vertical axis. This deformation complex indicates their seismogenic origin. We have revealed traces of a few strong earthquakes (three to five during the first millennium BCE and two during the first centuries CE). For some, we were able to reveal the directions of maximum seismic oscillations. The intensity of the seismic oscillations were I0 ≤ IX. The obtained data could serve for more reliable seismic hazard assessment for the Crimean Peninsula, as well as for assessment of the contribution of natural disasters to the development of civilization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Archaeological structures built across active faults and ruptured by earthquakes have been used as markers to measure the amount of displacement caused by ground motion and thus to estimate the magnitude of ancient earthquakes. The example used in this study is the Crusader fortress at Tel Ateret (Vadum Iacob) in the Jordan Gorge, north of the Sea of Galilee, a site which has been ruptured repeatedly since the Iron Age. We use detailed laser scans and discrete element models of the fortification walls to deduce the slip velocity during the earthquake. Further, we test whether the in-situ observed deformation pattern of the walls allows quantification of the amount both sides of the fault moved and whether post-seismic creep contributed to total displacement. The dynamic simulation of the reaction of the fortification wall to a variety of earthquake scenarios supports the hypothesis that the wall was ruptured by two earthquakes in 1202 and 1759 CE. For the first time, we can estimate the slip velocity during the earthquakes to 3 and 1 m/s for the two events, attribute the main motion to the Arabian plate with a mostly locked Sinai plate, and exclude significant creep contribution to the observed displacements of 1.25 and 0.5 m, respectively. Considering a minimum long-term slip rate at the site of 2.6 mm/year, there is a deficit of at least 1.6 m slip corresponding to a potential future magnitude 7.5 earthquake; if we assume ~5 mm/year geodetic rate, the deficit is even larger. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Previous approaches to earthquakes in archaeology, characterizing the geoarchaeological subfield archaeoseismology, have focused on types of seismic destructions and anti-seismic constructions in architectural remains. A challenge often raised in archaeoseismology relates to issues of equifinality since other human or environmental factors can also cause the archaeoseismc types in question. Furthermore, geological markers of earthquakes are rarely identified directly, i.e., stratigraphically, with archaeoseismic evidence. To address these challenges, this paper offers a methodological innovation through the geoarchaeological subfield of soil micromorphology to investigate earthquakes in the form of seismically triggered soft sediment deformation structures (SSDS) in direct stratigraphic association with architecture. Applications to the case of Helike in Greece — infamous victim of a major earthquake in 373 BCE — reveal not only key evidence for three earthquake events in the form of seismically triggered SSDS but also other geological hazards, including flooding and rapid coastal change, in association with Hellenistic period (late fourth to second century BCE) architecture. The results offer advancements for archaeology and suggest that geoarchaeology and soil micromorphology applications become standard in archaeology, particularly archaeoseismology, for the identification and interpretation of earthquakes. These advancements offer new avenues for exploring geological aspects of the human past. • Innovations in archaeological soil micromorphology can identify seismic deformation. • Earthquakes deform archaeological soils and sediments. • Hydromorphic conditions amplify earthquake deformation in soils and sediments. • Mw 5 or greater earthquakes cause architectural destruction and sediment deformation. • Archaeoseismology and soil micromorphology are subfields of geoarchaeology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study deals with the morphometric characterization and quantification of earthquake damage in the ancient Roman city of Baelo Claudia in South Spain (Gibraltar Arc) by means of the use of 3D modelling from drone imagery. Baelo Claudia is a world-renowned archaeological site recording recurrent earthquake destruction during the first and third centuries AD. The first earthquake destroyed the lower littoral zone of the city, allowing its reconstruction from the year c. 60–70 CE, but the second earthquake in 365–390 CE led to the complete destruction of the renewed city and its eventual abandonment. This second earthquake imprinted important deformations in the main monumental zone of the city, including the basilica temples, macellum, city walls, aqueducts and funerary monuments, as well as in the main paved zones of the city. This is the case for the Forum, Decumanus and Cardos, which show a variety of folds, pop-up structures, conjugate fractures and impact marks susceptible to be measured in a 3D format. The current study presents detailed (up to 3 mm/pixel) surface models of iconic monuments within the city. The 3D models were obtained by means of serial orthophotos taken with a UAV Mavic Pro 2 (DJI) Drone device equipped with a 20 mpx camera and a 1” CMOS sensor. Each individual image was captured in a geo-referenced jpg format and processed with the Agisoft Metashape Professional software®. Depending on the measured monument, the final images consisted of 250 to 700 photographs clustered by 50,000 to 150,000 tie points. In all studied items (Decumanus, city walls and bath dish), we follow the same workflow of analysis: (1) alignment of photos with support points; (2) building a dense cloud of points; (3) creation of the surface texture; (4) creation of the Digital Elevation Model (DEM); (5) creation of the orthomosaic; and finally, (6) the building of the high-quality 3D tiled surface models. The obtained models allow the geometric quantification of earthquake deformations (displacements, amplitudes, orientation, etc.) in a GIS-based 3D environment suitable to quantify oriented damage of seismic origin. In a complementary way, these 3D models deserve to be considered for their potential role as digital seismoscopes of ancient archaeological sites and/or heritage buildings.

Tunisia is known of sparse and moderate earthquakes. However, there are seismically damaged historical buildings in the eastern Sahel region. The Roman amphitheatre of Thysdrus (modern El-Jem), various Islamic religious and secular buildings in Sousse and Monastir testify to seismic events with intensity up to IX (EMS98 scale). We raise the hypothesis that their destruction was caused by the nearby east-west Cherichira-Abaieh Fault and the north-south Monastir Fault. Simultaneity of the 859 AD Kairouan earthquake and extensive restoration works in Sousse 50 km to the east allow assessing magnitude up to 7.2 based on segment length. The city was hit both by the 859 AD and a post-1575 earthquake. Being nearby two active faults, seismic hazard in Sousse is higher than either in Kairouan or in Monastir. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The working methods of Roman builders confirm the advanced knowledge of consolidation and repair techniques, so much so that quite a few of their buildings are still considered stable without undergoing further interventions. For those ancient structures that have collapsed, signs of destructive events remain, allowing a chronology of events to be reconstructed, as in the ancient Roman port of Ostia. The impression given by the excavations in Ostia regarding the causes and dynamics of collapse, which affected both ordinary and monumental buildings, is that of a center which, in addition to natural degradation due to progressive abandonment and the ravages of man, suffered the concomitant disastrous effects of several natural disasters. Therefore, the contribution focuses on some structural analysis results and two seismic measurement campaigns carried out in the archaeoseismological field to understand the causes and modes of collapse that affected several building structures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The destruction of a major archaeological site in the 7th–9th centuries clearly demonstrates a lack of seismic knowledge of the region and, as a result, the neglected and underestimated seismic hazard assessment in the Alabash-Konur-Oleng Depression region near the southern border of the Issyk-Kul basin on the map of the Kyrgyz Republic. The aim of the field studies was to assess the consequences of a seismic event, to identify damage to the integrity of archaeological structures, and to estimate the strength of an earthquake in a given region. To search for archaeological sites, aerial photography of the site along the Akterek River was carried out—from the coast to the elevation of the Duvana Mountains. Field studies in the southern Issyk-Kul basin and the Alabash-Konur-Oleng Depression led to the discovery of an ancient destroyed complex on the southern slope of the Duvana Mountains. This structure, located on a seismotectonic scarp, was destroyed by it and absorbed by a seismotectonic graben. Most likely, a strong (I0 ≥ 9) earthquake occurred during the complex's existence, the 7th–9th centuries (?). There are other archaeological sites of various age in the Alabash-Konuroleng depression, bearing traces of the strongest seismic impacts, the study of which can help extend the seismic catalog for centuries and contribute to a more accurate seismic hazard assessment of the area of currently rising uplifts—the Adyrs (foothills) of the Terskey Ala-Too Range. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mountainous perimeter of the Indian subcontinent is seismically active, while the Peninsula is considered a stable region. Short instrumental records of earthquakes in India make it imperative to use historical and archaeological means to understand the past seismic activity. We review the status of achaeoseismology in India, Pakistan and Bangladesh. Data are provided on seismic activity affecting Delhi, Konark (Odisha) and Mahabalipuram (Tamil Nadu) during historical times. The study intends to highlight the vital need to employ achaeoseismology coupled with other geological information to better assess the past seismological records. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present the first evidence of surface rupture along the causative fault of the 14 January 1703 earthquake (Mw 6.9, Italian central Apennines). This event was sourced by the ~30 km-long, Norcia fault system, responsible for another catastrophic event in Roman times, besides several destructive earthquakes in the last millennium. A dozen paleoseismological excavations have already investigated the surface ruptures occurred during the Holocene along the Cascia-Mt Alvagnano segments, as well as along secondary splays close to the Medieval Norcia Walls. Remarkably, the master fault bounding the Norcia-Campi basins have never be proved to rupture at the surface. An antique limekiln that was improvidently set across the main fault scarp provides the amazing evidence of an abrupt offset in the 1703 earthquake, which likely occurred during a liming process of carbonate stones. Obviously, the limekiln became useless, and was progressively buried by slope debris. The amount of the offset and the kinematics indicators surveyed in the site allow the strengthening of our knowledge on the seismogenic potential of the Norcia fault system, on its geomorphic rule, and on its impact on the human activities.