Normal fault displacement dislocating a Roman aqueduct of Ephesos, western Turkey

Abstract

A 38‐km‐long ancient aqueduct channel that served Roman Ephesos, Turkey was dislocated vertically over 3 m by a single seismic event on a normal fault. A new channel was constructed downstream from the fault in Roman times, next to and partly on top of the original channel. Archaeological investigations and study of carbonate deposits suggest a causative seismic event in the second half of the second century CE, probably in 178 CE, after the original channel had functioned for <35 years. The İçme Tepe fault was identified as responsible for the displacement and may still constitute a seismic and tsunami hazard for the Turkish west coast, specifically for the city of Kuşadası. Ancient aqueducts, of which more than 1400 are presently known, are a promising and almost untapped archive for archaeoseismic studies, especially in the Mediterranean area.

Demise of a harbor: a geochemical chronicle from Ephesus

“…It can also be acquired during transit from the aqueduct masonry, which includes mortar produced from local limestones. The laminated deposits observed in some aqueducts (Passchier et al, 2011(Passchier et al, , 2013 indicate hard water with excess alkalinity, which does not favor the idea that Pb was leached out of these conduits. The seemingly high concentrations of chalcophile elements in the sediments, first and foremost Pb but also Co and Mo, do not entail a pollution signal.…”

“…3), the aqueducts made silting depend on a fully functioning water distribution system. In this respect, the Menderes area is seismically active (Vannucci et al, 2004) and major earthquakes were particularly disruptive to the long and complex Ephesus aqueduct network (Passchier et al, 2013). Reduction of the water input by the seismic destruction of aqueducts translates into reduced water egress from the harbor basin and hence enhanced efficiency of its role as a sediment trap.…”

Sāfitā castle and rockfalls in the ‘dead villages’ of coastal Syria – an archaeoseismological study

“…Ancient buildings bearing particular features of damages provide evidence for past earthquakes. Prime examples are distance and time of repeated displacement of constructions across faults (on-fault studies) Altunel et al, 2009;Ellenblum et al, 1998;Marco et al, 1997;Meghraoui et al, 2003;Passchier et al, 2013;Sbeinati et al, 2010) , study of off-fault damages for the identification and assessment of displacement along the causative fault (e.g. Monaco & Tortorici, 2004), directionality of liquefaction-induced tilting in pagodas (e.g.…”

A high-resolution palaeoenvironmental record from carbonate deposits in the Roman aqueduct of Patara, SW Turkey, from the time of Nero

“…Since most of these structures were fed by perennial karst springs, carbonate deposits commonly precipitated in these supply channels and recorded variations in water temperature, evaporation, discharge and composition, as well as environmental and/or human interference with these fragile infrastructures. Since most ancient water supplies were built as pipelines or square masonry channels of regular dimensions and measurable slope where water was kept running for decades, the carbonate deposits formed therein represent a – largely untapped – archive of palaeoclimate, palaeohydrology, palaeoseismology and archaeology 7 8 9 10 . The deposits are specifically useful as a high-resolution palaeotemperature record, because they are commonly annually banded and may record seasonal air temperature fluctuations 1 2 .…”