Unconformity-Bounded Stratigraphic Units (Ubsus) In An Italian Alluvial-Plain Area: Recognizing and Dating

Torres³

et al. 2019

Geological Journal

This paper presents a detailed geological and geomorphological analysis of the so‐called givoni (low‐relief, mainly gravelly landforms subparallel to the coastline) associated with the MIS 5 terrace in the northern Gulf of Taranto (southern Italy). These landforms can be interpreted as former beach ridges, swash/drift‐aligned spits, or swash/drift‐aligned barriers (BSBs); thus, givoni are palaeoshoreline indicators. In the study area, recognizing the classic landforms associated with marine terraces, that is, surfaces and scarps, is difficult, as the givoni are often associated and variably combined with surfaces and scarps. Thus, we reconstruct the formation and evolution processes of the MIS 5 marine terrace, including the formation of surfaces, scarps, and BSBs (and the resulting composite landforms), in an overall evolutionary framework based on eustatic oscillations. Then, we reconstruct a complete set of situations in which BSBs form on loose or semiconsolidated substrates in response to eustatic oscillations: (a) BSBs can form during a highstand of a warm stage on previously consolidated sediment; (b) BSBs may represent coastlines formed during sea‐level standstills in the context of a general regressive phase following the highstand peak that created a relict sea cliff; (c) BSBs may represent coastlines formed during a new relative highstand in a warm substage on previously unconsolidated deposits formed during the same stage; and (d) BSBs may be formed by a process similar to that of the previous case, except that the sea level stopped rising against a pre‐existing BSB.

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…For the provenance of the samples, see the geological map (Figure ) and/or sections (Figures and ). For a description of the AAR dating method applied, refer to De Santis et al (), De Santis et al (), De Santis, Caldara, Torres, and Ortiz (), and De Santis et al ().…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

The role of beach ridges, spits, or barriers in understanding marine terraces processes on loose or semiconsolidated substrates: Insights from the givoni of the Gulf of Taranto (southern Italy)

Santis

Torres³

et al. 2019

Geological Journal

“…Previously described and interpreted in De Santis et al (2010Santis et al ( , 2013, in this study area, this subunit consists of dark grey to grey-blue clays, greyish clayey or silty sands, greyish clays and silts and yellowish sands with a high content of marine fauna. This subunit is attributed to the MIS 5-MIS 3 interval.…”

Section: Litorale Sud DI Manfredoniamentioning

confidence: 70%

“…A delta R correction (δR = 121 ± 60) calculated for the Southern Adriatic Sea off Barletta (Taviani M. and Correggiari A., personal communication; http://intcal.qub.ac.uk/marine/) was used. The sample of the MM4 borehole was dated by using the Amino Acid Racemisation (AAR) method applied on ostracod shells at the Biomolecular Stratigraphy Laboratory of the Polytechnical University of Madrid (De Santis et al, 2010Santis et al, , 2013.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

The 5.5–4.5 kyr climatic transition as recorded by the sedimentation pattern of coastal deposits of the Apulia region, southern Italy

Vincenzo

2015

The Holocene

Coastal marine Holocene deposits of the Apulia region, considered as indicators of palaeoclimatic conditions, were studied. Our data show that (1) up to c. 5500 cal. yr BP, a phase of accumulation of flint pebbles from the Gargano headland occurred at the Riviera sud di Manfredonia (Adriatic coast); their transport from the Gargano headland (north of the study site) is incompatible with the current northward littoral drift and is best explained by a prevalence and dominance of NE and E winds and (2) after c. 4500 cal. yr BP, there was a rapid accumulation of sediments at the Marina di Ugento (Ionian coast), which is best explained by a prevalence and dominance of S, SW and SE winds. The two different wind regimes identified can be explained by a change in the mean pressure configuration in the central Mediterranean. The first phase (until c. 5500 cal. yr BP) consisted of more frequent cyclogenesis to the east-southeast of the Italian Peninsula, followed by a second phase (from c. 4500 cal. yr BP) of more frequent cyclogenesis to the west-northwest. The period between 5500 and 4500 cal. yr BP represents a transitional phase between the two different regimes. In other words, there was a 'retreat' of the central Mediterranean cyclogenesis towards the west-northwest. This pattern is contemporaneous with the termination of the African Humid period. We interpret both the 'retreat' of the Mediterranean cyclogenesis and the termination of the African Humid period as the expression of an expansion of the tropical dry Saharan belt.

“…According to recent geological literature on the Tavoliere Plain, the Middle Pleistocene (MIS 6; De Santis et al ., , , ) Foggia synthem (TGF) crops out in the Masseria Pantano area (1:50 000 scale geological sheet n. 409 ‘Foggia’; Ciaranfi et al ., ), comprising beds and lenses of clayey–silty and conglomeratic deposits. A distinctive feature of the TGF unit is the presence, in the upper part, of several layers of calcareous crust, the last of which occurs at the top (Caldara et al ., ; Ciaranfi et al ., ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A Multidisciplinary Approach to Reveal and Interpret ‘Missing’ Archaeological Features at the Masseria Pantano Site in Apulia (Southern Italy)

Archaeological Prospection

Ciminale

Santis

et al. 2014

A non-invasive investigation, integrating aerial photography and high-resolution magnetic survey, was carried out at the Masseria Pantano site (Apulia, Southern Italy) to obtain a more detailed reconstruction of an extensive ancient settlement, which revealed different phases of human frequentation. The results of the ground-based survey were also used to guide some archaeological excavations, which brought to light, mainly, parts of Medieval wall and column foundations. The correlation between the magnetic anomalies and archaeological remains was very satisfying, except for the lack of a source body that could explain the origin of a positive anomaly, the intensity and extent of which is very significant. A supplementary magnetic survey combined with stratigraphic interpretation from two boreholes, followed by susceptibility measurements, were able to solve this interesting partial misunderstanding between archaeological and magnetic data. This approach revealed clear evidence for a canal, probably Roman in date, which lies beneath the presumed ancient surface identified during the excavation.