Rendiconti Online della Società Geologica Italiana, 2018
La comprensione della stretta interazione tra estesi fenomeni geologici e manifestazioni metereol... more La comprensione della stretta interazione tra estesi fenomeni geologici e manifestazioni metereologiche a breve e lungo termine e una conquista scientifica che puo essere fatta risalire solo agli anni settanta del ventesimo secolo. Cio nonostante gli effetti diretti o indiretti di questi eventi parossistici non sfuggirono agli osservatori del passato ed ebbero sovente influenze sociologiche con ricadute su credenze, folclore, opere artistiche e letterarie. Il presente contributo si basa su testimonianze originali, diari e notizie pubblicate sulla stampa dell'epoca (tra XVIII e XIX sec.), che permettono di mettere in luce gli effetti che ebbero in area alpina due dei piu importanti eventi vulcanici avvenuti in tempi storici: l'eruzione del Laki (1783) e quella del Tambora (1815). Fenomeni atmosferici anomali come nebbie secche, cieli rossastri, temporali violenti, furono le manifestazioni piu evidenti delle due eruzioni che ebbero ripercussioni importanti su economia, ecosistemi e societa. Le tesi che fisici, astronomi, naturalisti e medici del tempo elaborarono per giustificare questi apparenti disordini delle leggi fisiche dell'universo furono numerose e talora fantasiose. Solo negli ultimi decenni si e riusciti a dimostrare come le eruzioni vulcaniche possano avere influssi di lungo periodo e su grande scala anche sul clima globale e sulla societa.
... Vertebrate remains of chondrichthyans, osteichthyans, and reptilians have been reported from ... more ... Vertebrate remains of chondrichthyans, osteichthyans, and reptilians have been reported from the area since the late 1800s (Bassani, 1892; Pinna, 1990; Sirna et al., 1994; Rieppel and Dalla Vecchia, 2001, Dalla Vecchia and Avanzini, 2002, Dalla Vecchia, 2006), where they ...
... of the writers (MDA and AP) visited the site and realizing the true scientific meaning and pa... more ... of the writers (MDA and AP) visited the site and realizing the true scientific meaning and palaeontological potential of the “devil's trails” initiated ... sector of the caldera, was characterized by the eruption of small and medium size pyroclastic flows like the Conca ignimbrite, which is ...
RIASSUNTO-Incisioni rupestri di epoca storica nel massiccio del Pasubio (Trento)-E' descritto un ... more RIASSUNTO-Incisioni rupestri di epoca storica nel massiccio del Pasubio (Trento)-E' descritto un significativo insieme di incisioni rupestri realizzate alla base di un'alta parete calcarea nel gruppo montuoso del Pasubio (Trento). Sono riconoscibili iscrizioni ed incisioni figurative. Le iscrizioni coprono un arco temporale compreso tra il 1816 e il 1876 e comprendono epigrafi semplici nelle quali è riportato solo il nome dell'autore associato alla data di segnatura ed epigrafi più complesse nelle quali viene riportato anche il motivo della presenza in loco del relativo autore. Le incisioni figurative comprendono animali e figure antropomorfe. La presenza di date permette di contestualizzare con sicurezza la maggior parte delle figure. Per altre la datazione risulta ancora incerta ma è comunque sicuro che tutte sono attribuibili ad un periodo che va dalla fine del XV secolo fino ai primi anni del XIX secolo, con importanti implicazioni relativamente alle confrontabili incisioni della Val d'Assa (Asiago) e di altri contesti alpini. SUMMARY-Historical petroglyphs in the Pasubio massif (Trento)-A notable set of petroglyphs realized at the base of a high limestone cliff located in the Pasubio massif (Trento) is here described. Inscriptions and figurative engravings are recognized. Inscriptions span between 1816 and 1876. Both simple epigraphs-reporting the author's name associated with the date only-and more complex epigraphs-where a justification for the presence of the author in the site is added-are reported. Figurative engravings comprise animal and anthropomorphic shapes. Temporal indications permit a safe contextualization for the majority of the shapes. For others, temporal assignation is uncertain. All engravings are however safely datable between the XV and XIX century.
The myth of giants as first inhabitants of countries is a common legend shared by different cultu... more The myth of giants as first inhabitants of countries is a common legend shared by different cultures. In this paper, we highlight that one of the determining factors of the origination of the myth was the discovery of large vertebrate bones (largely Cenozoic), initially interpreted as the remains of giant humans. Thus, huge skeletons were interpreted by authoritative writers such as Strabo, Philostratus and Pliny (just to name a few) as the bodies of the mythological giant Antaeus, Ilio son of Hercules, Orestes, Cyclops and many others. As for the myth of the Great Flood, also the hypothesis of the giants found a convenient literal confirmation in the Sacred Scriptures. One of the first correct interpretations takes place in the first half of the eighteenth century with the studies of Hans Sloane which applied some rudiments of comparative anatomy to prove that the bones belonged to large cetaceans or terrestrial quadrupeds. In the Italian panorama, until the eighteenth century, several authors were convinced of the past existence of entire nations of giants, which represented the first populations of Mediterranean islands. Sloane's work had a great impact also in Italy, although some 'sacs of resistance' persisted up to mid-nineteenth century.
... and Ribade-sella. The sequence has a total thickness >600 m, and consi... more ... and Ribade-sella. The sequence has a total thickness >600 m, and consists of several units that yielded an important sample of dinosaur footprints and skeletal remains (Garcıa-Ramos et al. 2002, 2004, 2006). The Lastres ...
An Erpetopus trackway recorded in the Lower Permian Collio Formation (Orobic Alps, northern Italy... more An Erpetopus trackway recorded in the Lower Permian Collio Formation (Orobic Alps, northern Italy) is investigated as a source of data to reconstruct ancestral patterns of locomotion in eureptiles. The inferred smallsized captorhinid-''protorothyridid'' producer cut an inclined muddy surface dragging its front limb digits, tail, and belly on the ground. Integrating ichnological and anatomical data we suggest that small captorhinids (''protorothyridids'') locomotion was performed with an obligatory, rigid sprawling posture with the trunk only slightly lifted from the substrate in a low, sprawled 'belly walk'.
Four large limestone blocks with dinosaur footprints have been discovered in a large landslide si... more Four large limestone blocks with dinosaur footprints have been discovered in a large landslide situated in the Sarca Valley (northeast Italy). The trampled sediments have been ascribed to the upper part (Pliensbachian) of the Lower Jurassic Calcari Grigi Formation, which in the Sarca Valley consists of oolitic‐bioclastic limestones. These carbonates were originally deposited on the western margin of the Trento
Rendiconti Online della Società Geologica Italiana, 2018
La comprensione della stretta interazione tra estesi fenomeni geologici e manifestazioni metereol... more La comprensione della stretta interazione tra estesi fenomeni geologici e manifestazioni metereologiche a breve e lungo termine e una conquista scientifica che puo essere fatta risalire solo agli anni settanta del ventesimo secolo. Cio nonostante gli effetti diretti o indiretti di questi eventi parossistici non sfuggirono agli osservatori del passato ed ebbero sovente influenze sociologiche con ricadute su credenze, folclore, opere artistiche e letterarie. Il presente contributo si basa su testimonianze originali, diari e notizie pubblicate sulla stampa dell'epoca (tra XVIII e XIX sec.), che permettono di mettere in luce gli effetti che ebbero in area alpina due dei piu importanti eventi vulcanici avvenuti in tempi storici: l'eruzione del Laki (1783) e quella del Tambora (1815). Fenomeni atmosferici anomali come nebbie secche, cieli rossastri, temporali violenti, furono le manifestazioni piu evidenti delle due eruzioni che ebbero ripercussioni importanti su economia, ecosistemi e societa. Le tesi che fisici, astronomi, naturalisti e medici del tempo elaborarono per giustificare questi apparenti disordini delle leggi fisiche dell'universo furono numerose e talora fantasiose. Solo negli ultimi decenni si e riusciti a dimostrare come le eruzioni vulcaniche possano avere influssi di lungo periodo e su grande scala anche sul clima globale e sulla societa.
... Vertebrate remains of chondrichthyans, osteichthyans, and reptilians have been reported from ... more ... Vertebrate remains of chondrichthyans, osteichthyans, and reptilians have been reported from the area since the late 1800s (Bassani, 1892; Pinna, 1990; Sirna et al., 1994; Rieppel and Dalla Vecchia, 2001, Dalla Vecchia and Avanzini, 2002, Dalla Vecchia, 2006), where they ...
... of the writers (MDA and AP) visited the site and realizing the true scientific meaning and pa... more ... of the writers (MDA and AP) visited the site and realizing the true scientific meaning and palaeontological potential of the “devil's trails” initiated ... sector of the caldera, was characterized by the eruption of small and medium size pyroclastic flows like the Conca ignimbrite, which is ...
RIASSUNTO-Incisioni rupestri di epoca storica nel massiccio del Pasubio (Trento)-E' descritto un ... more RIASSUNTO-Incisioni rupestri di epoca storica nel massiccio del Pasubio (Trento)-E' descritto un significativo insieme di incisioni rupestri realizzate alla base di un'alta parete calcarea nel gruppo montuoso del Pasubio (Trento). Sono riconoscibili iscrizioni ed incisioni figurative. Le iscrizioni coprono un arco temporale compreso tra il 1816 e il 1876 e comprendono epigrafi semplici nelle quali è riportato solo il nome dell'autore associato alla data di segnatura ed epigrafi più complesse nelle quali viene riportato anche il motivo della presenza in loco del relativo autore. Le incisioni figurative comprendono animali e figure antropomorfe. La presenza di date permette di contestualizzare con sicurezza la maggior parte delle figure. Per altre la datazione risulta ancora incerta ma è comunque sicuro che tutte sono attribuibili ad un periodo che va dalla fine del XV secolo fino ai primi anni del XIX secolo, con importanti implicazioni relativamente alle confrontabili incisioni della Val d'Assa (Asiago) e di altri contesti alpini. SUMMARY-Historical petroglyphs in the Pasubio massif (Trento)-A notable set of petroglyphs realized at the base of a high limestone cliff located in the Pasubio massif (Trento) is here described. Inscriptions and figurative engravings are recognized. Inscriptions span between 1816 and 1876. Both simple epigraphs-reporting the author's name associated with the date only-and more complex epigraphs-where a justification for the presence of the author in the site is added-are reported. Figurative engravings comprise animal and anthropomorphic shapes. Temporal indications permit a safe contextualization for the majority of the shapes. For others, temporal assignation is uncertain. All engravings are however safely datable between the XV and XIX century.
The myth of giants as first inhabitants of countries is a common legend shared by different cultu... more The myth of giants as first inhabitants of countries is a common legend shared by different cultures. In this paper, we highlight that one of the determining factors of the origination of the myth was the discovery of large vertebrate bones (largely Cenozoic), initially interpreted as the remains of giant humans. Thus, huge skeletons were interpreted by authoritative writers such as Strabo, Philostratus and Pliny (just to name a few) as the bodies of the mythological giant Antaeus, Ilio son of Hercules, Orestes, Cyclops and many others. As for the myth of the Great Flood, also the hypothesis of the giants found a convenient literal confirmation in the Sacred Scriptures. One of the first correct interpretations takes place in the first half of the eighteenth century with the studies of Hans Sloane which applied some rudiments of comparative anatomy to prove that the bones belonged to large cetaceans or terrestrial quadrupeds. In the Italian panorama, until the eighteenth century, several authors were convinced of the past existence of entire nations of giants, which represented the first populations of Mediterranean islands. Sloane's work had a great impact also in Italy, although some 'sacs of resistance' persisted up to mid-nineteenth century.
... and Ribade-sella. The sequence has a total thickness >600 m, and consi... more ... and Ribade-sella. The sequence has a total thickness >600 m, and consists of several units that yielded an important sample of dinosaur footprints and skeletal remains (Garcıa-Ramos et al. 2002, 2004, 2006). The Lastres ...
An Erpetopus trackway recorded in the Lower Permian Collio Formation (Orobic Alps, northern Italy... more An Erpetopus trackway recorded in the Lower Permian Collio Formation (Orobic Alps, northern Italy) is investigated as a source of data to reconstruct ancestral patterns of locomotion in eureptiles. The inferred smallsized captorhinid-''protorothyridid'' producer cut an inclined muddy surface dragging its front limb digits, tail, and belly on the ground. Integrating ichnological and anatomical data we suggest that small captorhinids (''protorothyridids'') locomotion was performed with an obligatory, rigid sprawling posture with the trunk only slightly lifted from the substrate in a low, sprawled 'belly walk'.
Four large limestone blocks with dinosaur footprints have been discovered in a large landslide si... more Four large limestone blocks with dinosaur footprints have been discovered in a large landslide situated in the Sarca Valley (northeast Italy). The trampled sediments have been ascribed to the upper part (Pliensbachian) of the Lower Jurassic Calcari Grigi Formation, which in the Sarca Valley consists of oolitic‐bioclastic limestones. These carbonates were originally deposited on the western margin of the Trento
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