Geomorphology and geoarchaeology of the Paestum area: modifications of the physical environment in historical times

A detailed geoarchaeological study of the southern portion of the Sele river plain (Campania), and in particular of the area of Paestum which hosts the remnants of the famous Greek settlement Poseidonia, has been undertaken. Particular attention was paid to the reconstruction of the physical landscape at the moment when Poseidonia was founded, and to the environmental modifications which affected the vicinity of Paestum in historical times. Collected stratigraphic and archaeological data have allowed to reconstruct important landscape modifications related to the deposition of travertine by the Capodifiume stream in Holocene times. Archaeological data evidence that nearly all human activities were localised on travertine units whose deposition pre-dates the Greek settlement and which are represented, from north to south, by the Gaudo, Arcione, Paestum and Mancone units. Setting aside the Gaudo unit of pre-Holocene age and the Paestum unit which was also affected in Late Holocene times by further travertine deposition, yet to be investigated in detail, at least four distinct travertine units were deposited from the Middle Holocene onwards. These units are represented by the aforementioned Mancone and Arcione units (respectively of Middle Holocene and pre-Archaic age) and by the Spinazzo-Linora and Licinella units of Roman to sub-present age. Their distribution shows that, due to the deviations in the course of the Capodifiume stream, travertine deposition alternatively affected various zones located respectively north and south of the ancient city of Paestum, and the city itself, and significantly controlled man’s activities on the Paestum plain in prehistoric and historical times.