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ARTICLE IN PRESS

42 L. Ferranti et al. / Quaternary International 145– 146 (2006) 30–54

Fig. 11. Elevation of the MIS 5.5 markers, indicated by numbers in black in metres with respect to modern s.l., plotted on a DEM of Calabria and
Sicily. Markers type and quality factor as listed in Additional Table are indicated. Major faults and the thrust front of the Apennines and
Maghrebids are shown (partly adapted from Bigi et al., 1992; Tortorici et al., 1995; Catalano et al., 2003). White dashed lines is trace of cross-section
portrayed above.

the south (Nappi et al., 1991; Barberi et al., 1994). at which MIS 3 marine deposits are found in the same
South of the volcanoes, the pattern of subsidence in the core suggests a mean subsidence rate of 0.2–0.3 mm/a
plains and stability on the rocky promontories typical of for the last 50 ka. AMS 14C data of wood fragments
the eastern Tyrrhenian coast returns (e.g. Nisi et al., found in lagoon deposits (Barra et al., 1996) indicate
2003). that the Volturno coastal plain was tectonically almost
stable during the last 5 ka. Thus, the subsidence rate was
5.4. Campania and Tyrrhenian Basilicata higher for some 10 ka after the MIS 5.5, and decreased
progressively since then.
Along the rocky promontories of this region the MIS
5.5 marker represented by notches and marine terraces, Subsidence at a minor average rate since the last
locally associated with radiometrically dated deposits, interglacial is found in the Sarno plain, south of
is generally at the position of the MIS 5.5 sea-level Mt. Vesuvius volcano, where the MIS 5.5 marker was
(Fig. 10; Brancaccio et al., 1978; Romano, 1992). In found at À29 m (Barra et al., 1991). Subsidence at this
contrast, in the Volturno plain (Fig. 10), the MIS 5.5 plain is likely controlled by the recent and ongoing
marker is recovered in a borehole at around À50 m volcanic activity of the Somma-Vesuvius volcanic
(Romano et al., 1994), yielding an average subsidence complex (Scandone et al., 1991).
rate of 0.45 mm/a. The subsidence of the plains is
consistent with volcano-tectonic collapse following Thus, the elevation pattern of the marker indicates
emplacement of the Campanian Ignimbrite around stability of the promontories and subsidence in the
37 ka ago (De Vivo et al., 2001). However, the depth plains of this part of the region, attributable to the
interplay of active onshore and onland normal faults
bordering the plain (Fig. 10), and to volcanic collapse.