Geological Evidence of Paleotsunamis at Torre degli Inglesi (northeast Sicily)

Two layers of fine sand of marine origin occur in a sequence of organic rich colluvia in an archaeological excavation at Torre degli Inglesi, on Capo Peloro, northeast Sicily. Stratigraphic and micropaleontologic analyses support the hypothesis that these layers are related to deposition due to paleotsunami waves. Their ages are constrained both with radiocarbon and archaeological datings. The age of the oldest layer is coincident with the 17 A.D. earthquake that hit Reggio Calabria but for which no tsunami was previously reported. The age of the youngest layer can be only constrained in the range 3rd– 19th century and is tentatively associated to the 6 Feb. 1783 event.Italian Civil Protection Department in the frame of the 2004 – 2006 agreement with Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia – INGV (Seismological Project S2) and E.C. project TRANSFER (contract 037058)PublishedL053113.2. Tettonica attivaJCR Journalpartially_ope