The Dead Sea Transform (DST) is a continental transform representing the boundary between Arabia and Sinai plates and accommodating a long-term slip rate of about 4-5 mm/a (e.g. Garfunkel et al., 2014). The DST shows the alternation of millennial periods of quiescence and seismic clusters, i.e., sequence of surface-rupturing earthquakes triggering each other in a short time laps. Seismic gaps suggest that presently several fault segments, including the Jordan Valley fault, are locked and strain is accumulating (Hamiel et al., 2016). We focus our efforts at the N tip of the Jordan Valley, at the Sea of Galilee (SOG) area, which is a subsiding basin bounded to the E by a left-lateral fault and to the W by the Tiberias normal fault, splaying at surface into several fault strands. In particular, we investigate the seismicity and paleoseismicity of the 8th century AD, when strong shocks clustered in time and space along this sector of the DST. Our investigation includes (Ferrario et al., 2015): i) re-interpretation of historical chronicles and available data; ii) analysis of a 0.5-m-resolution airborne Lidar of the entire SOG shores; iii) high-resolution seismic reflection profiles; iv) archaeoseismic and mesostructural surveys at two Roman sites in Tiberias, Berniki Theatre and the Southern City Gate (v) paleoseismological analysis. Preliminary results clearly map the strand of an active fault crossing the theatre, where a 60-cm vertical offset has been measured and dated by means of archaeological stratigraphy. A terrestrial Lidar survey, which is now in progress, will allow to measure with cm-accuracy the vertical and lateral components of coseismic displacement. We interpret the damage as primary surface faulting of one of the 8th century mainshocks. This interpretation is shading light on the “749 AD event” and contributing to the identification of the main faults which were activated during this event.

Primary surface faulting across the Roman Theatre at Berniki, Sea of Galilee: new archaeoseismic and structural data

FERRARIO, MARIA FRANCESCA;LIVIO, FRANZ;MICHETTI, ALESSANDRO MARIA;
2016-01-01

Abstract

The Dead Sea Transform (DST) is a continental transform representing the boundary between Arabia and Sinai plates and accommodating a long-term slip rate of about 4-5 mm/a (e.g. Garfunkel et al., 2014). The DST shows the alternation of millennial periods of quiescence and seismic clusters, i.e., sequence of surface-rupturing earthquakes triggering each other in a short time laps. Seismic gaps suggest that presently several fault segments, including the Jordan Valley fault, are locked and strain is accumulating (Hamiel et al., 2016). We focus our efforts at the N tip of the Jordan Valley, at the Sea of Galilee (SOG) area, which is a subsiding basin bounded to the E by a left-lateral fault and to the W by the Tiberias normal fault, splaying at surface into several fault strands. In particular, we investigate the seismicity and paleoseismicity of the 8th century AD, when strong shocks clustered in time and space along this sector of the DST. Our investigation includes (Ferrario et al., 2015): i) re-interpretation of historical chronicles and available data; ii) analysis of a 0.5-m-resolution airborne Lidar of the entire SOG shores; iii) high-resolution seismic reflection profiles; iv) archaeoseismic and mesostructural surveys at two Roman sites in Tiberias, Berniki Theatre and the Southern City Gate (v) paleoseismological analysis. Preliminary results clearly map the strand of an active fault crossing the theatre, where a 60-cm vertical offset has been measured and dated by means of archaeological stratigraphy. A terrestrial Lidar survey, which is now in progress, will allow to measure with cm-accuracy the vertical and lateral components of coseismic displacement. We interpret the damage as primary surface faulting of one of the 8th century mainshocks. This interpretation is shading light on the “749 AD event” and contributing to the identification of the main faults which were activated during this event.
2016
Ferrario, MARIA FRANCESCA; Livio, Franz; Michetti, ALESSANDRO MARIA; Katz, O.; Amit, R.
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11383/2051735
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