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ARTICLE IN PRESS

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

Table 1 MIS 5.5 sea-level high stand was at different positions in
Type of markers of the MIS 5.5 highstand, including the estimated different parts of the world. Thus, the eustatic datum for
uncertainty in the related paleo-sea level location and the assigned individual regions must be defined using independent
quality factor observational data. In the central Mediterranean the
marker shoreline in southern Sardinia (Fig. 4) is
Depositional marker commonly used to define the shoreline position during
1. Beach/lagoon deposits the sea-level high stand. This shoreline is situated at a
coast which is considered to be tectonically stable since
Uncertainty: À2 m. Quality: 1 the Early Miocene (Patacca et al., 1990; Gueguen et al.,
2. Backshore/foreshore deposits 1998), and unaffected by crustal loading and unloading
during a glacial–interglacial cycle (Lambeck et al.,
Uncertainty: 75 m. Quality: 2/3 2004b). The mean altitude of the MIS 5.5 marker at
the Sardinian sites is 673 m and is here adopted as the
Erosional average eustatic reference datum for Italy.
3. Inner margin of marine terrace
3. Quaternary tectonics of Italy
Outcropping: uncertainty: +3 m. Quality: 1
Concealed beneath continental deposits: uncertainty: À20 m. The deviation of the MIS 5.5 marker elevation from
Quality: 3 the expected eustatic elevation is used to elucidate the
4. Marine terrace pattern of vertical motion experienced by Italian coasts.
Uncertainty: +20 m. Quality: 3
5. Tidal notch
Uncertainty: 70.1 m. Quality: 1

Biological marker
6. Top of lithophaga hole-band

Uncertainty: +2 m. Quality: 1
7. Dendropoma reef

Uncertainty: 70.2 m. Quality: 1

Fig. 4. Distribution of the MIS 5.5 exposures in Italy; numbers refers to site numbers listed in Additional table. Outlines and names of Italy
administrative regions are shown.