Paris, 4 place Jussieu 75252 Paris cedex 05; 'Agence Natwnale pour la Gestion des Dechets Radiwctifs (ANDRA), B.P. 38, route du Panorama Robert Schumrm, 92266 F o n t e n a y d u -k d x , France ABSTRACTThe 1356 Basel earthquake was the strongest event to have shaken NW Europe in the last thousand years. The peculiar location of this historical event makes it possible to relate it to normal faulting along the edges of the Rhine Graben, as well as to reverse faulting along the Jura frontal thrust or to fault reactivation within the Hercynian basement. Alternate hypotheses are discussed and their implications compared taking into account available structural data and results of the morphotectonic study performed in the epicentral area. This study combines field observations with the analysis of SPOT satellite imagery, aerial photographs, and detailed topography. It is concluded that the Basel earthquake most probably reactivated a basement fault (reverse or wrench fault) beneath the shallow-depth aseismic detachment that underlies the Jura Mountains.

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