Cultural Heritage and Rockfalls: Analysis of Multi-Scale Processes Nearby the Lucus Angitiae Archaeological Site (Central Italy)

Abstract

Archaeological areas in the mountain region of central Italy can be seriously threatened by geological hazards, and efforts are required to preserve cultural heritage. The Lucus Angitiae is a pre-Roman site located along the western edge of the Fucino Basin, the largest continental depression of central Apennines. The carbonate slope overhanging the area is affected by active rockfall processes from two main rock escarpments. In this paper, rockfall assessment was pursued through a 3D kinematic modelling, performed by adopting a probabilistic approach. Specific attention was dedicated to the choice and calibration of the input data, based on field evidence and a literature review. Two different sizes of wedge-shaped rock blocks were identified on rock escarpments, and specific stability analyses were performed. Sensitivity analyses accounting for possible triggering factors, such as water pressure increase and seismic action, were also carried out, together with an investigation of the seismological characteristics of the area. The results of the numerical simulations were used to design effective countermeasures in the framework of a mitigation plan for protection of the archaeological site. Finally, clues of gravity-driven slope deformations at the slope scale were documented, framing the rockfall process in a wider geological scenario.

Role of Inherited Tectonic Structures on Gravity-Induced Slope Deformations: Inference from Numerical Modeling on the Luco dei Marsi DSGSD (Central Apennines)

“…In the external sector of the slope, near the eastern margin of the ridge, yielded nodes are frequent both within the rock mass and along joint sets. This favors the surficial collapses at toe to which landslides mainly of the rock-fall type are linked [38].…”

“…Trenches, plurimetric in length and width, are distributed both along the slope edge (Figure 6a) and the internal sectors, where they are often associated with grabens or downhill-and uphill-facing scarps (Figure 6b,c). In the same areas, roughly corresponding to the fold axial zone, complex features such as grabens and ridge-top depressions were also observed, as well as bulging and landslides at the toe of the carbonate slope [38]. The activity of the DSGSD during the last 30 years, of the order of a few mm/yr, was acknowledged by means of analysis of DInSAR data and time-series elaboration [39].…”

“…The activity of the DSGSD during the last 30 years, of the order of a few mm/yr, was acknowledged by means of analysis of DInSAR data and time-series elaboration [39]. to the fold axial zone, complex features such as grabens and ridge-top depressions were also observed, as well as bulging and landslides at the toe of the carbonate slope [38]. The activity of the DSGSD during the last 30 years, of the order of a few mm/yr, was acknowledged by means of analysis of DInSAR data and time-series elaboration [39].…”

“…Several DSGSDs have been detected and analyzed in the last two decades in the central Apennines, both for scientific purposes and related hazard and risk. Regarding the latter, it is worth underlining how these gravity-induced deformations can evolve as catastrophic rock slope failures, e.g., [25], or be accompanied by secondary landslides threatening infrastructures, roads, villages, and elements of cultural heritage, as it happens [38] in the study area (see insert in Figure 1). The Meso-Cenozoic carbonate sequence outcropping near the village of Luco dei Marsi is affected by an evident DSGSD [39].…”