Universität zu Köln

Hadler, Hanna, Fischer, Peter, Obrocki, Lea, Heinzelmann, Michael and Voett, Andreas (2020). River channel evolution and tsunami impacts recorded in local sedimentary archives - the 'Fiume Morto' at Ostia Antica (Tiber River, Italy). Sedimentology, 67 (3). S. 1309 - 1344. HOBOKEN: WILEY. ISSN 1365-3091

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Abstract

Ostia, the ancient port of Rome at the mouth of the river Tiber (Italy), flourished until the 2nd Century ad, although massive siltation had already caused the abandonment of its lagoonal harbour in the 1st Century bc. In search of an alternative harbour site, geomorphological and geoarchaeological research was carried out in the 'Fiume Morto', an abandoned Tiber meander to the immediate north of the town. To reconstruct its complex development and evaluate the suitability of the river channel as a fluvial harbour, a transect perpendicular to the former river channel's flow axis was systematically explored by a new methodological approach combining electrical resistivity tomography, direct push-electrical conductivity sensing and vibracores. Together with microfossil, mineralogical and geochemical analyses of sediment samples and 50 radiocarbon dates, in-depth stratigraphic data support a detailed reconstruction of different Tiber channel generations. Results reveal a meander development closely related to distinct 'cut and fill' dynamics. Inactive river channels were repeatedly filled with lagoonal sediments, abruptly followed by phases of intense incision. Yet, the overall Fiume Morto channel structure remained stable and almost in situ over centuries, showing nearly no lateral changes since the southward shift of the Tiber River mouth in the first millennium bc. In the 1st Century bc, channel conditions favoured navigation and transportation of goods with large ships. Open-water conditions, suitable for anchoring and landing activities, dominate from the 1st Century ad until 1557 ad, when the Fiume Morto meander was finally cut off and silted up within a short time. Within the fluvial deposits, sediments most likely related to tsunami inundations are preserved. These events occurred sometime before the 2nd Century bc, in the early 1st Century ad and in the 17th Century ad or later. Results are consistent with traces of tsunami influence found in Ostia's western lagoonal harbour.

Item Type:	Journal Article
Creators:	Creators Email ORCID ORCID Put Code Hadler, Hanna UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED Fischer, Peter UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED Obrocki, Lea UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED Heinzelmann, Michael UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED Voett, Andreas UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED
URN:	urn:nbn:de:hbz:38-339503
DOI:	10.1111/sed.12599
Journal or Publication Title:	Sedimentology
Volume:	67
Number:	3
Page Range:	S. 1309 - 1344
Date:	2020
Publisher:	WILEY
Place of Publication:	HOBOKEN
ISSN:	1365-3091
Language:	English
Faculty:	Faculty of Arts and Humanities
Divisions:	Faculty of Arts and Humanities > Fächergruppe 2: Archäologie, Altertumskunde und Kulturen des Mittelmeerraums > Archäologisches Institut > Klassische Archäologie
Subjects:	no entry
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Keywords Language RESISTIVITY TOMOGRAPHY; HOLOCENE RECORD; DELTA; HARBOR; ROME; GEOCHEMISTRY; WAVES; GEOARCHAEOLOGY; STRATIGRAPHY; EXAMPLE Multiple languages Geology Multiple languages
Refereed:	Yes
URI:	http://kups.ub.uni-koeln.de/id/eprint/33950