Archaeoseismology is the study of past earthquakes by analysis of archaeological sites. Such analyses reveal information about seismic events that was not historically recorded before the advent of seismometers in the late 19th century. Such data can also help to document seismic risk in areas subject to extremely destructive earthquakes.[1] In 1991, an international conference in Athens marked the beginning of modern research in the field of archaeoseismology, described as a "study of ancient earthquakes, and their social, cultural, historical and natural effects".[2]

The main idea

Earthquakes in the distant past may provide important information for a regional seismic risk assessment. We have quantitative data concerning past earthquakes only from the beginning of the 20th century (as the seismograph was invented only at the end of the 19th century), but humanity has had to deal with earthquakes throughout its existence. Thus we have extremely limited historical information about seismic risks. A methodology for reconstruction of historical earthquakes was held during the 20th century, but with very limited results, especially for archaic earthquakes. Thus research in archaeological sites is needed to try to identify damage and destruction from ancient earthquakes.[3]

Archaeological record

The archaeological record can carry three different types of evidence of seismic activity:

  • The archaeological remains are displaced due to the movement of an active fault.[4]
  • The remains and artefacts contained in destruction deposits, associated with the decline of soil or seismic vibration, can be used in the dating of earthquake damage. Other archaeological evidence, such as repairs, abandonment of an archaeological site or architectural changes, can help in identifying ancient earthquakes.[5]
  • Αncient buildings and other man-made structures can be studied for signs of ancient seismic disaster, often associated with soil vibration.[6]

Notable events

See also

References

  1. Giner-Robles, J.L.; et al. (2012). "Archaeoseismology as an emerging science". Sequridad Y Medio Ambiente. Archived from the original on 18 March 2016. Retrieved 15 March 2016.
  2. Sintubin, Manuel (2012). "Archaeoseismology". In Beer, Michael; Kougioumtzoglou, A. Ioannis; Patelli, Edoardo; Au, Siu-Kui Ιvan (eds.). Encyclopedia of Earthquake Engineering. Berlin, Heidelberg: Springer Berlin Heidelberg. pp. 1–17. ISBN 978-3-642-36197-5.
  3. Ambraseys, N. N., 1973. Earth Sciences in Archaeology and History. Antiquity, 47 pp. 229-230
  4. Altunel, E.; et al. (2003). "Earthquake faulting at ancient Cnidus, SW Turkey". Turkish Journal of Earth Sciences. 12 (1): 137–151.
  5. Marco, S. (2008). "Recognition of earthquake-related damage in archaeological sites: examples from the Dead Sea fault zone". Tectonophysics. 453: 148–156. doi:10.1016/j.tecto.2007.04.011.
  6. Silva, P.G.; et al. (2009). "Surface and subsurface palaeoseismic records at the ancient Roman city of Baelo Claudia and the Bolonia Bay area, Cádiz (south Spain)". Geological Society of London, Special Publications: 93–121.


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