Multisource and Multilevel Investigations on a Historical Landslide: The 1907 Servigliano Earth Flow in Montemurro (Basilicata, Southern Italy)

Mario Bentivenga, Fabrizio Terenzio Gizzi, Giuseppe Palladino, Marco Piccarreta, Maria Rosaria Potenza, Angela Perrone, Jessica Bellanova, Giuseppe Calamita and Sabatino Piscitelli
Additional contact information
Mario Bentivenga: Department of Sciences, University of Basilicata, 85100 Potenza, Italy
Fabrizio Terenzio Gizzi: Institute of Heritage Science, National Research Council (ISPC-CNR), Area della Ricerca, C.da S. Loja, Tito, 85050 Potenza, Italy
Giuseppe Palladino: Department of Geology and Geophysics, School of Geosciences, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen AB24 3FX, UK
Marco Piccarreta: Department of Sciences, University of Basilicata, 85100 Potenza, Italy
Maria Rosaria Potenza: Institute of Heritage Science, National Research Council (ISPC-CNR), Area della Ricerca, C.da S. Loja, Tito, 85050 Potenza, Italy
Angela Perrone: Institute of Methodologies for Environmental Analysis (CNR-IMAA), Area della Ricerca, C.da S. Loja, Tito, 85050 Potenza, Italy
Jessica Bellanova: Institute of Methodologies for Environmental Analysis (CNR-IMAA), Area della Ricerca, C.da S. Loja, Tito, 85050 Potenza, Italy
Giuseppe Calamita: Institute of Methodologies for Environmental Analysis (CNR-IMAA), Area della Ricerca, C.da S. Loja, Tito, 85050 Potenza, Italy
Sabatino Piscitelli: Institute of Methodologies for Environmental Analysis (CNR-IMAA), Area della Ricerca, C.da S. Loja, Tito, 85050 Potenza, Italy

Land, 2022, vol. 11, issue 3, 1-24

Abstract: Italy is one of the European countries most affected by landslides. In order to mitigate the risk, the analysis of such phenomena should involve a broad spectrum of studies to understand the geological and geomorphological properties of the unstable areas, the geometric features of the landslides and the causes of their trigger, the evolution over time, and the works of risk mitigation taken as well as their effectiveness over time. This article is concerned with multidisciplinary investigations on a historical earth flow occurred in Montemurro (Basilicata, Southern Italy) in 1907. We analyse unpublished archive sources strictly coupled with new geological and geomorphological surveys. Furthermore, to gain information on the geometrical features of the landslide body, geophysical prospections (ERT) is used alongside the field surveys. Lastly, to gain insight on the landslide triggering factors, we employed historical–climatological analysis: in particular, we made use of the monthly simple daily intensity index (SDII) to evaluate extreme events and the standardised precipitation index (SPI) to consider previous wetness conditions. The earth flow was triggered on 26 February 1907 and the main movement lasted about one week, involving several buildings, including those of cultural interest. Historical documentary investigations and historical climatological analysis both indicate that the earth flow was triggered by a preceding heavy rain period, which independent historical sources suggest also caused the activation of landslides over a wider area around Montemurro. Currently, the earth flow is NE–SW oriented, extends for a length of ~1.1 km, and has an average width of ~220 m. The landslide is in a dormant activity phase. From a methodological point of view, the research stresses the importance of integrated approaches to investigate natural hazards, particularly by the use of historical data. This research may be of interest to academics, practitioners, and policymakers for both the methodological approach followed and results gained, useful in view of both risk mitigation and territorial planning of landslide-prone areas.

Keywords: geological features; historical landslide; cultural heritage; archive sources; historical rainfall; risk mitigation; electrical resistivity tomography (ERT); southern Apennine; Basilicata region; Agri Valley (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q15 Q2 Q24 Q28 Q5 R14 R52 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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