engleski

Rising of the Sea Level on the Eastern Adriatic Coast since Antiquity: Evidence of Roman Villa Sites

Tectonic movements in the Adriatic region during the last 2000 years can be observed through architectural studies of Roman villas on the eastern Adriatic coast. The structures built at the shorline in the first century are today partially submerged and provide some indications of the extent to which sea level has risen since antiquity. Maritime villas were opulent estates with architecture spread along the waterfront and on terraces above it, and where the sound of waves reached every room. The changes in the sea level are most visable in the remains of harbour installations and water-front structures , such as jetties, piers, stone-built embankments and fishponds(piscinae vivariae), which are today below the sea surface at all villas on the eastern Adriatic coast. The coast of the eastern side of the Adriatic has sunk, while ancient sites on western , Italian coast, like Spina and Adria(two important ancient port sites), are today found at some distance from the coast, which has risen. According to recent studies(R. Bennet), the reason for these changes is the motion of the Adriatic microplate. Precise measurements of the coastal sinking at the villa sites could provide evidence for the rate of the tectonic change. Our research to date has shown that the sea level has risen about 2 meters since antiquity, at the rate of about 1mm per year. This process is expected to continue. The mesurements of the xcisting levels of embankments, floor of the waterfront porticos and of piers at several major sites have shown different values between the sites in Istria and those in Dalmatia. This would indicate not only sinking but also bending of the Adriatic microplate.

Adriatic sea; Roman villas; tectonics; 1st- 21st century

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