The Traversette (Italia) Rockfall

Geomorphological Indicator of the Hannibalic Invasion Route

Datos Bibliográficos

ID8354540
AutoresWilliam C Mahaney (0000-0002-5803-7397, autor de correspondencia), Barbara Kapran, Volli Kalm (University of Tartu), Pierre Tricart (Unité d'Appui et de Recherche OSUPS), Christopher Carcaillet (0000-0002-6632-1507, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique), Olivier Blarquez (0000-0002-1508-6607, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique), Michael W Milner, René W Barendregt (0000-0002-8659-4051, University of Lethbridge), Peeter Somelar (0000-0003-3188-0402, University of Tartu)
Año2010
Volumen52
Número1
Páginas156-172
Fecha de publicación2010-02-01
Peer ReviewedSí
Open AccessSí
TipoARTICLE
RevistaArchaeometry (JOURNAL)
Identificadores de la revistaISSN: 0003-813X • E-ISSN: 1475-4754
EditorialWiley (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1111/j.1475-4754.2009.00463.x
OpenAlexW2140619900
IdiomaEN
Citas recibidas5
Referencias citadas26

Numerous small, low volume rockfalls around the crest of the Italian and French Alps, principally formed from calcareous mica schist and metabasalt, have impeded travel across the major cols for millennia. As documented by Polybius and Livy in the ancient literature, Hannibal's Army was blocked by a two‐tier rockfall on the lee side of the Alps, a rubble sheet of considerable volume that delayed his exit into the upper Po River Country. An in‐depth study of the possible cols reveals that the only such two‐tier landform lies below the Col de la Traversette, at ∼2600 m above sea level. In addition, it represents a problem in applied geomorphology, namely, to accurately determine the nature of the surface rubble sheet in Hannibal's time (218 bc ). A reconstruction of the initial deposit, likely Late Glacial, following the retreat of the Po Glacier, is based upon an analysis of the source rock and geological setting. Further specifications on the geometry of the Neoglacial cover sediment are based on weathering characteristics, lichen cover and soil development. The ‘myth’ that Hannibal fired the rockfall to comminute boulders is plausible given the vegetation records which support tree growth nearby, but is unsubstantiated by the lack of any carbonized rock

Archaeology · Bedrock · Cliff · Geography · Geomorphology · Geotechnical engineering · Glacier · Landform · Landslide · Metamorphic rock · Moraine · Rockfall · Rubble · Schist · Weathering · Aeolian processes and effects · Geology · Geology and Paleoclimatology Research · Landslides and related hazards · Paleontology