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

Cornelis W. Passchier | Zendy; Gül Sürmelihindi | Zendy; Christoph Spötl | Zendy

Open Access

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

Author(s) -

Cornelis W. Passchier,

Gül Sürmelihindi,

Christoph Spötl

Publication year - 2016

Publication title -

scientific reports

Language(s) - English

Resource type - Journals

SCImago Journal Rank - 1.24

H-Index - 213

ISSN - 2045-2322

DOI - 10.1038/srep28704

Subject(s) - aqueduct , geology , carbonate , period (music) , calcite , emperor , sequence (biology) , paleontology , geochemistry , archaeology , ancient history , geography , art , history , materials science , genetics , biology , metallurgy , aesthetics

An inscription on the supporting wall of the inverted siphon of the aqueduct of the ancient Roman city of Patara, SW Turkey, explains how the wall collapsed during an earthquake and was subsequently restored. Carbonate deposits formed inside the aqueduct channel show cyclic stable isotope changes representing 17 years of deposition. This sequence, together with the text of the inscription, allows dating the earthquake to 68 AD and the original inauguration of the aqueduct to the winter of 51/52 AD. Thus, the carbonate deposits represent a high-resolution record of palaeotemperature and precipitation for SW Turkey covering the complete reign of the Emperor Nero. The period shows a cooling and drying trend after an initial warm and more humid period, interrupted by a few anomalous years. These 2 cm of calcite highlight the significance of carbonate deposits in ancient water supply systems as a high-resolution archive for palaeoclimate, palaeoseismology and archaeology.

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