Abstract
We present a combined geomorphological and biochronological study aimed at providing age constraints to the deposits forming a wide paleo-surface in the coastal area of the Tyrrhenian Sea, south of Anzio promontory (central Italy). We review the faunal assemblage recovered in Campoverde, evidencing the occurrence of the modern fallow deer subspecies Dama dama dama, which in peninsular Italy is not present before MIS 5e, providing a post-quem terminus of 125 ka for the deposit hosting the fossil remains. The geomorphological reconstruction shows that Campoverde is located within the highest of three paleosurfaces progressively declining towards the present coast, at average elevations of 36, 26 and 15 m a.s.l. The two lowest paleosurfaces match the elevation of the previously recognized marine terraces in this area; we define a new, upper marine terrace corresponding to the 36 m paleosurface, which we name Campoverde complex. Based on the provided evidence of an age as young as MIS 5e for this terrace, we discuss the possibility that previous identification of a tectonically stable MIS 5e coastline ranging 10–8 m a.s.l. in this area should be revised, with significant implications on assessment of the amplitude of sea-level oscillations during the Last Interglacial in the Mediterranean Sea.
Highlights
The area where these terraces are recognized corresponds to the coastal reach facing the Monti Sabatini and Colli Albani volcanic districts (Fig. 1), which were active 800 ka through 86 ka[8,9], and 600 ka though 36 ka[10], respectively
We have performed a geomorphological study of the coastal area southeast of Anzio, and we have re-analyzed the faunal remains hosted at the Nettuno museum with the aim of providing biochronological constraints to the Campoverde paleosurface, in order to check its chronological relationships with the 36 m terrace north of Anzio, and with the sea-level indicators attributed to MIS 5e in this area
The correlation of the 36 m terrace with MIS 5e in the investigated area south of Anzio is consistent with the wider regional geomorphological setting, where this terrace is continuously recognized in the coastal area between Civitavecchia and Anzio, and is geochronologically constrained at 129 ka
Summary
The area where these terraces are recognized corresponds to the coastal reach facing the Monti Sabatini and Colli Albani volcanic districts (Fig. 1), which were active 800 ka through 86 ka[8,9], and 600 ka though 36 ka[10], respectively. We have performed a geomorphological study of the coastal area southeast of Anzio, and we have re-analyzed the faunal remains hosted at the Nettuno museum with the aim of providing biochronological constraints to the Campoverde paleosurface, in order to check its chronological relationships with the 36 m terrace north of Anzio, and with the sea-level indicators attributed to MIS 5e in this area.
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