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The geology of the 2nd century A.D. Amphitheater Area of Catania, Italy: Historical Eruptions Affecting the Urban District
Author(s)
Language
English
Obiettivo Specifico
1V. Storia e struttura dei sistemi vulcanici
Status
Published
JCR Journal
JCR Journal
Peer review journal
Yes
Title of the book
Issue/vol(year)
/31 (2016)
Pages (printed)
3-16
Issued date
2016
Keywords
Abstract
The amphitheater of Catania is one of the main architectural structures built
during Roman domination of the town. It was constructed in two successive
phases between the 1st and 2nd centuries A.D. and fell into disuse from the
second half of the 4th century. Detailed geological and petrographic investigations
allow better geomorphological reconstruction of the area where the
monument was built. In particular, the western and eastern portions of the
amphitheater are built on prehistoric lava flows, named Barriera del Bosco
and Larmisi, respectively. We infer that the choice of site to build the monument
was highly influenced by the morphological setting of the area. In fact, the location at the contact between two lava flow fields facilitated excavation and removal of rocks due to the incoherence of the scoriaceous lateral border of the lava flows. Integrating both archaeological and geological data has revealed that a large number of Neolithic, Greek, and Roman sites are located in the lava fields of Barriera del Bosco and Larmisi within the present urban
district of Catania, indicating that during its long history the city was directly impacted by only one lava flow, namely in A.D. 1669.
during Roman domination of the town. It was constructed in two successive
phases between the 1st and 2nd centuries A.D. and fell into disuse from the
second half of the 4th century. Detailed geological and petrographic investigations
allow better geomorphological reconstruction of the area where the
monument was built. In particular, the western and eastern portions of the
amphitheater are built on prehistoric lava flows, named Barriera del Bosco
and Larmisi, respectively. We infer that the choice of site to build the monument
was highly influenced by the morphological setting of the area. In fact, the location at the contact between two lava flow fields facilitated excavation and removal of rocks due to the incoherence of the scoriaceous lateral border of the lava flows. Integrating both archaeological and geological data has revealed that a large number of Neolithic, Greek, and Roman sites are located in the lava fields of Barriera del Bosco and Larmisi within the present urban
district of Catania, indicating that during its long history the city was directly impacted by only one lava flow, namely in A.D. 1669.
Type
article
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