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Archaeoseismology in Algeria: Observed Damages Related to Probable Past Earthquakes on Archaeological Remains on Roman Sites (Tel Atlas of Algeria)

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The Geology of the Arab World---An Overview

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Abstract

For the period before 1365, the catalogue of historical earthquakes in Algeria remains sparse. A number of earthquakes have been identified in archived documents, and yet others can be inferred from their damage to archaeological structures. In this study, we focus on the Roman period (BC 146–429), the Vandal and Byzantine period (AD 429–533) in the region of the seismically active Tell Atlas. The Tell Atlas of Algeria retains numerous archaeological records of former earthquakes. At the Roman sites of Lambaesis (Lambèse), Thamugadi (Timgad) Thibilis (Salaoua Announa) or Thevest (Tebessa), we interpret damage to monuments as having been caused by strong shaking, ground subsidence, and landslides effects. In this study, we aim at contributing towards archaeoseismology in Algeria by presenting examples of observed damage and disorders on several Roman sites.

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank colleagues from various institutions, Salim Drici, and Mustapha Filah, from the Archaeological Institute, University Abu Al Kacem Saadallah, Algiers, Said Maouche, and Farida Ousadou from Center of Research in Astronomy Astrophysics and Geophysics, Algiers, Kamel Amri from the Earth Sciences Faculty, University Houari Boumedienne, Algiers for fruitful discussion and support. The authors would like also to thank particularly Ghilles Rabai, Mohamed Beresse and Abderrahmane Bellal from the Earth Sciences Faculty, University Houari Boumedienne, Algiers for their help during the preparation of the figures. The authors would like to thank the anonymous reviewers for their fruitful comments and suggestions. This work was conducted in the framework of the MEDYNA FP7-PEOPLE-2013-IRSES project, WP-1: Present-day Kinematics and seismic hazards, funded by the Seventh Framework European Program FP-7.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Archaeology, University of Algiers, Algiers, Algeria

    K. Roumane

  2. Center of Research in Astronomy, Astrophysics and Geophysics, CRAAG, Algiers, Algeria

    A. Ayadi

Authors
  1. K. Roumane
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  2. A. Ayadi
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Correspondence to K. Roumane .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. University of Science and Technology Houari Boumediene, Algiers, Algeria

    Abderrahmane Bendaoud

  2. Department of Geology, Benha University, Benha, Egypt

    Zakaria Hamimi

  3. Faculty of Earth Sciences, University of Science and Technology Houari Boumediene, Algiers, Algeria

    Mohamed Hamoudi

  4. Faculty of Earth Sciences, University of Science and Technology Houari Boumediene, Algiers, Algeria

    Safouane Djemai

  5. Department of Geology, Benha University, Benha, Egypt

    Basem Zoheir

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Roumane, K., Ayadi, A. (2019). Archaeoseismology in Algeria: Observed Damages Related to Probable Past Earthquakes on Archaeological Remains on Roman Sites (Tel Atlas of Algeria). In: Bendaoud, A., Hamimi, Z., Hamoudi, M., Djemai, S., Zoheir, B. (eds) The Geology of the Arab World---An Overview. Springer Geology. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-96794-3_8

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