The Tiber river delta plain (central Italy)

Coastal evolution and implications for the ancient Ostia Roman settlement

Datos Bibliográficos

ID12265166
AutoresP Bellotti (Università ‘La Sapienza’, Italy, autor de correspondencia), Gilberto Calderoni (0000-0003-1187-5139, Institute of Environmental Geology and Geoengineering), Federico Di Rita (0000-0002-3065-8474, Sapienza University of Rome), Maurizio D’Orefice (Servizio Sanitario Nazionale), Carmine D’Amico (University of Molise), Daniela Esu (Sapienza University of Rome), Donatella Magri (0000-0001-7254-593X, Sapienza University of Rome), Maria Preite Martinez (Institute of Environmental Geology and Geoengineering), Paolo Tortora (0000-0001-9259-7673, Sapienza University of Rome), Publio Valeri (Sapienza University of Rome)
Año2011
Volumen21
Número7
Páginas1105-1116
Fecha de publicación2011-05-26
Peer ReviewedSí
Open AccessSí
TipoARTICLE
RevistaThe Holocene (JOURNAL)
Identificadores de la revistaISSN: 0959-6836 • E-ISSN: 1477-0911
EditorialSAGE Publishing (PUBLISHER • US)
DOI10.1177/0959683611400464
OpenAlexW2041114082
IdiomaEN
Citas recibidas36
Referencias citadas31

Geomorphologic, stratigraphic, faunistic, palynological and carbon isotope analyses were carried out in the area of the Tiber river mouth. The results depict a complex palaeoenvironmental evolution in the area of the Roman town of Ostia, ascertain the changes of the Tiber river delta over the last 6000 years and support a re-interpretation of some archaeologic issues. The wave-dominated Tiber delta evolved through three distinct phases. In the first step (5000–2700 yr BP) a delta cusp was built at the river mouth, which was located north of the present outlet. Subsequently (2700–1900 BP), an abrupt southward migration of the river mouth determined the abandonment of the previous cusp and the progradation of a new one. The third step, which is still in progress, is marked by the appearance of a complex cusp made up of two distributary channels. The transition from the first to the second evolution phase occurred in the seventh century bc and was contemporary to the foundation of Ostia, as suggested by historical accounts. However, the oldest archaeological evidence of the town of Ostia dates to the fourth century bc, when human activity is clearly recorded also by pollen data. We suggest that the first human settlement (seventh century bc) consisted of ephemeral military posts, with the aim of controlling the strategic river mouth and establishing the Ostia saltworks. Only after the fourth century bc the coastal environment was stable enough for the foundation and development of the town of Ostia

Archaeology · Delta · Ephemeral key · Geography · Palynology · Pollen · Progradation · River delta · River mouth · Sedimentary depositional environment · Structural basin · Archaeological Research and Protection · Archaeology and ancient environmental studies · Maritime and Coastal Archaeology · Ecology · Geology · Paleontology