Archaeoseismology and Palaeoseismology in the Alpine ... - Tierra

1 st INQUA‐IGCP‐567 International Workshop on Earthquake Archaeology and Palaeoseismology
TESTING THE HYPOTHESIS OF EARTHQUAKE‐RELATED DAMAGE IN
STRUCTURES IN THE LYCIAN ANCIENT CITY OF PINARA, SW TURKEY
B. Yerli (1) ,S. Schreiber (2), K.G. Hinzen (2), J.H. ten Veen (3) and M. and M. Sintubin (4)
(1) Institute for Geology, Mineralogy and Geophysics, Ruhr University, Universitätsstrasse 150, D‐44801, Bochum, GERMANY.
baris.yerli@rub.de
(2) Earthquake Geology Group, Cologne University, Vinzenz‐Pallotti‐Str. 26, 51429 Bergisch Gladbach. GERMANY
(3) TNO Built Environment and Geosciences, P.O. Box 80015, 3508 TA, THE NETHERLANDS
(4) Geodynamics & Geofluids Research Group, K.U. Leuven, Celestijnenlaan 200E, 3001 Leuven, BELGIUM
Abstract: Earthquake‐related damage in archaeological structures can provide important clues to increase our knowledge of the timing and
magnitude of historical earthquakes. However, anthropogenic and other natural influences make the investigation more complex. The
quantitative methods (e.g. laser scanning) have been used in Pınara Ancient City to distinguish the manmade damage from seismic‐related
damage. The geological investigations and archaeoseismological observations indicate that the city of Pınara has been affected by
earthquakes but the relicts have been also despoiled. The Sarcophagus of Arttumpara in Pınara is deformed and the upper two massive
limestone decks have been rotated ca. 5° in clockwise direction and traces of an explosion have been observed on the second ceiling. These
features make the sarcophagus a reliable and an interesting example for testing the origin of the cause of damage.
Key words: archaeoseismology, laser scanning, damage modelling
INTRODUCTION
Archaeoseismological studies usually attempt to
investigate a possible connection between damage to the
archaeological structures and historical or instrumental
earthquakes. The important challenge lies in separating
earthquake‐related damage from anthropogenic and
other natural causes (Ambraseys et al., 2004; Guidoboni,
2002). Recent seismological engineering models can be
used to test the hypothesis that observed building
damage is of seismogenic nature (e.g. Hinzen, 2005) by
seeking a systematic relation between building response
and the seismic source or ground motion.
Fig. 1: Plate tectonic map of the eastern Mediterranean (modified
after ten Veen, 2004). FBFZ = Fethiye Burdur Fault Zone, MM =
Menderes Massive, PT = Pliny Trench, ST = Strabo Trench
In the following, the geological and seismological setting
of Pınara and surroundings will be described, followed by
a sketch of the archaeoseismological results.
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Subsequently, measurements and in‐situ observations are
examined with respect to being suitable traces for
earthquake‐related damage. We conclude that the main
task will be to differentiate between earthquake‐related
damage and anthropogenic damage. We propose to
employ methods based on laser scanning and discrete
element modelling for examining causes of the damage
on the structures.
THE ESEN BASIN
The tectonic evolution of southwestern Turkey (Fig. 1) is
characterized by a multi‐stage deformation, which is
initially related to the Cretaceous – Middle Miocene
Neothetys closure and subsequently to the collision of
African and Eurasian plates in Late Miocene to Recent
times. This tectonic process was followed by the initiation
of the north and south Anatolian transform fault systems
(NAF and EAF). These transform fault systems
accommodate the westward extrusion of the Anatolian
platelet (e.g. Barka and Kadinsky‐Cade, 1988; Westaway,
1994; Armijo et al., 1999; ten Veen et al., 2008).
In southwestern Turkey the neotectonic activity is
represented by the so‐called Fethiye‐Burdur Fault Zone
(Barka and Reilinger, 1997; FBFZ); a domain with many
sub‐parallel NE‐SW trending fault segments and basins in
the area between Fethiye and Burdur. The Eşen Basin
together with many similar fluvio‐lacustrine extensional
basins are located in the tectonically complex FBFZ and
are likely foundered in response to gravitational collapse
of the Lycian Orogen that formed during several thrusting
phases in the Cretaceous – Middle Miocene period (e.g.
Collins and Robertson, 1999; Alçiçek et al., 2006, Alçiçek,
2007).