Post-Greek Coastline Shifts Interpreted by Biostratigraphic Analysis on Hipponion's Seismotectonically Active Margin, Calabria, Italy

Abstract

ABSTRACT Bernasconi, M.P. and Stanley, J.-D., 2014. Post-Greek coastline shifts interpreted by biostratigraphic analysis on Hipponion's seismotectonically active margin, Calabria, Italy. Coastline migrations since the Greek period are identified on the seismotectonically active Tyrrhenian margin near ancient Greek Hipponion (Vibo Valentia), in SW Calabria, Italy. The study area is characterized by the Trainiti River mouth area, with its small delta-shaped protuberance and two large, submerged, coast-abutting breakwaters that once delineated a harbor for late Greek, Roman, and subsequent settlements. Biogenic facies and ecological analyses define the depositional settings of late Holocene sediment sections in cores recovered on shore just landward of the harbor's eastern breakwater. Radiocarbon-dated biogenic facies in the cores show sediments accumulated in inner-shelf settings to depths of about 10 m, indicating the coastline had retreated about 200 to 300 m landward of its present position from about th...