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Integrated geological and geophysical investigations to characterize the anthropic layer of the Palatine hill and Roman Forum (Rome, Italy)

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Abstract

The anthropic layer of Palatine hill (Rome, Italy) and surrounding areas was modeled with the aim of providing a valuable input for assessing local seismic hazard; results are presented in this paper. More than 200 boreholes, twenty-four Electrical Resistivity Tomography (ERT), and several Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) surveys were integrated in order to (i) characterize the archaeological layer susceptible to seismic amplification, and (ii) map the basal surface of the anthropic cover. In terms of composition, the anthropic layer was distinguished in zones with dominant masonry remains, and zones with dominant infill. Zones with dominant masonry consist predominantly of building remains, typically alternate with sandy-pebbly fill materials with a silty-clay or pozzolan matrix. Zones with dominant infill are generally subordinate and consist of sandy-pebbles with a silty-clay or pozzolan matrix. The morphology buried below the anthropic layer was reconstructed through the integration of ERT and GPR surveys, that were calibrated and constrained using geological cross-sections, borehole and archaeological stratigraphies. The basal surface of the anthropic layer was interpolated by means of multicollocated cokriging, using buried escarpments as break lines. Thickness of the anthropic layer was than calculated starting from DTM and basal surface of the anthropic layer. Finally, the possible conditioning of the anthropic layer on local seismic amplification was discussed.

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Acknowledgments

The authors thank Roberto Cecchi (former Government Commissioner) and Pia Petrangeli (first project coordinator, and then Government Commissioner) for funding the geological and geophysical surveys. The study was carried out within the UrbiSIT Project (2007–2012), financially supported by DPC, the Italian Civil Protection Department (CNR-IGAG project manager: G.P. Cavinato; DPC referents: L. Cavarra, F. Leone, G. Naso, F. Bramerini). Collaboration of the Special Superintendence for the Archaeological Heritage of Rome, in particular of Maria Antonietta Tomei, Maria Grazia Filetici, and Maurizio Rulli, was greatly appreciated. The authors also thank Francesca Carboni (Superintendence) and Alessandra Cicogna (CNR-ITABC) for archaeological support and for a preliminary review of the manuscript; Maurizio Simionato, Marco Mancini, and Alessandro Pagliaroli (CNR-IGAG) for their support during the drilling campaign; Angela Perrone, Enzo Rizzo, and Gerardo Romano (CNR-IMAA) for their support during the ERT surveys; and Emiliano Di Luzio, Daniele Verrecchia, and Anna De Meo (CNR-ITABC) for their support during the GPR surveys. Alessandro Pagliaroli is also thanked for relevant support on characterization of the anthropic fill. Emanuele Giannini and Valentina Santoro are thanked for the helpful discussions about the archaeological setting of the Domus Augustana. Finally, the authors thank Landmark for the use of the software \(\text{ LithoTect }^{\circledR }\).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. CNR-IGAG, Istituto di Geologia Ambientale e Geoingegneria, Area della Ricerca di Roma RM1, Via Salaria km 29300, 00015 , Monterotondo Stazione, RM, Italy

    Massimiliano Moscatelli, Francesco Stigliano & Fabrizio Marconi

  2. CNR-IMAA, Istituto di Metodologie per l’Analisi Ambientale, C.da S. Loja, 85050 , Tito, PZ, Italy

    Sabatino Piscitelli & Alessandro Giocoli

  3. CNR-ITABC, Istituto per le Tecnologie Applicate ai Beni Culturali, Area della Ricerca di Roma RM1, Via Salaria km 29300, 00015 , Monterotondo Stazione, RM, Italy

    Salvatore Piro & Daniela Zamuner

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  1. Massimiliano Moscatelli
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  2. Sabatino Piscitelli
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  3. Salvatore Piro
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  4. Francesco Stigliano
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  5. Alessandro Giocoli
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  7. Fabrizio Marconi
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Correspondence to Francesco Stigliano.

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Moscatelli, M., Piscitelli, S., Piro, S. et al. Integrated geological and geophysical investigations to characterize the anthropic layer of the Palatine hill and Roman Forum (Rome, Italy). Bull Earthquake Eng 12, 1319–1338 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10518-013-9460-5

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