Evaluation of cliff recession in the Valle dei Templi in Agrigento (Sicily)

• Published in: Engineering geology Vol. 192; pp. 129 - 138
• Main Authors: Ercoli, Laura, Zimbardo, Margherita, Nocilla, Nicola, Nocilla, Alessandra, Ponzoni, Elisa
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 18.06.2015
• Subjects: Archaeological site; Cliffs; Collapsible sand; Discontinuity; Failure; Mathematical models; Recession; Remote sensing monitoring; Rock; Sand; Soils; Suction; Italy, Sicilia; Suction; Collapsible sand; Archaeological site; Remote sensing monitoring

The sacral complex of the Valle dei Templi in Agrigento, added in the UNESCO Heritage Site List, stands over the crest of a rigid calcarenite cuesta, which overlies a layer of partially saturated (S=6–12%) carbonate sand. In turn, the sand stratum lies on a thick stratum of clays. The environment is...