Publications
Tectonic relationships between the Paleozoic basement and the Mesozoic cover succession in the northern Dora-Maira Massif (Susa Valley, Western Alps)
A key insight into the multistage tectonic evolution of orogenic belts emerges from the northern Dora-Maira Massif, specifically within the UNESCO World Heritage Site at Susa. The study reveals that the Bussoleno Detachment Shear Zone, acting as a critical basement-cover interface, likely originated in the Early Triassic and localized deformation, predating Alpine polyphase deformation. This zone, along with the ophiolite-bearing Foresto Shear Zone, was deformed through four main phases (D1 to D4), with the early tectonic setting established during subduction-related D1 phase. The research utilizes a 1:5,000 scale geological map to elucidate these complex tectonic relationships, offering a deeper understanding of how detachment zones influence orogenic processes.
Mineralogical and petrological constraints and tectonic implications of a new coesite-bearing unit from the Alpine Tethys oceanic slab (Susa Valley, Western Alps)
Researchers have identified a new Ultrahigh Pressure (UHP) oceanic unit in the Susa Valley, Western Alps, marked by the presence of coesite—a rare mineral indicating extreme pressure conditions. This discovery, analyzed through Raman spectroscopy and thermometry, suggests that the region once experienced subduction to mantle depths, similar to other UHP units like Lago di Cignana and Lago Superiore. The findings imply a previously underestimated extent of UHP oceanic slices in the Western Alps, challenging models of localized pressure and supporting the idea of a dismembered slab during exhumation.
Comparative Study of Architectural Bricks from Khorsabad and Susa Sites: Characterization of Black Glazes
A comparative analysis of black glazes on architectural bricks from Susa and Khorsabad reveals distinct coloring techniques between the Neo-Assyrian (Khorsabad) and Achaemenid Persian (Susa) periods. At Susa, black glaze composition varies by function: manganese oxide for colored fields and iron-rich compounds for raised lines separating glazed areas. In contrast, Khorsabad's black glazes contain spherical copper sulfide and galena nanoparticles, a rare technique with poorly understood formation mechanisms. The study employed optical microscopy, SEM-EDX, synchrotron µ-XRD, and µ-Raman spectroscopy to characterize these glazes, offering new insights into ancient brick manufacturing processes.
Post-wildfire erosion rates and triggering of debris flows: A case study in Susa Valley (Bussoleno)
Post-wildfire erosion rates can increase by more than 20 times, significantly raising the risk of debris flows and floods. A study in Susa Valley, Italy, applied a modified version of the RUSLE model on GIS to quantify these changes, leveraging high-resolution rainfall data and field surveys. The research found that the Erodibility Index (EI), monthly soil loss (A), and sediment loss (SL) all rose dramatically post-fire, with the highest erosion occurring in April, May, and June. This surge is attributed to a more than one-order magnitude increase in the Erodibility Index compared to pre-fire conditions. The findings highlight the severe impact of wildfires on geological hazards in Alpine regions, where such events are not typically expected.
Traditional Knowledge Evolution over Half of a Century: Local Herbal Resources and Their Changes in the Upper Susa Valley of Northwest Italy
A significant decline in traditional medicinal plant knowledge and usage has been observed in the Susa Valley, Italy, over the past 50 years. This study, comparing data from 2018 with a 1970 survey, documented 36 species—21 for medical purposes and 15 as food-medicines—highlighting a loss of ethnobotanical practices likely due to socioeconomic and cultural shifts. Promising species like Taraxacum officinale, Urtica dioica, and Artemisia genipi were identified for potential future use in nutraceuticals, food, and medicine. The research employed 30 semi-structured interviews to capture current practices, offering insights into the erosion of traditional ecological knowledge in mountainous regions.
Zerynthia polyxenaLocally Monophagous onAristolochia pallidain the Susa Valley
Research reveals that the protected butterfly Zerynthia polyxena exhibits local monophagy on Aristolochia pallida in the Susa Valley, despite being oligophagous across Europe. While larvae of Z. polyxena thrive and develop similarly on A. clematitis and A. rotunda until the third larval stage, only those fed with A. pallida successfully reach the pupal stage. This finding underscores the importance of understanding local host plant preferences for designing effective conservation strategies for protected Lepidoptera species. The study employed controlled laboratory conditions to investigate oviposition choices and larval development, providing critical insights into the ecological specificity of this butterfly.
HP tectono‐metamorphic evolution of the Internal Piedmont Zone in Susa Valley (Western Alps): New petrologic insight from garnet+chloritoid‐bearing micaschists and Fe–Ti metagabbro
A new study reveals that the subduction of the Tethys oceanic lithosphere in the Western Alps occurred under similar high-pressure (HP) and ultra-high-pressure (UHP) conditions, as evidenced by garnet+chloritoid-bearing micaschists and Fe–Ti metagabbro from Susa Valley. The research identifies four distinct metamorphic stages, including an Alpine peak-P stage reaching HP-UHP eclogite facies boundary (25–29 kbar, 460–510°C), followed by decompression under eclogite facies conditions and later greenschist facies re-equilibration. The inferred P–T path aligns with other Western Alpine meta-ophiolites, suggesting a consistent subduction regime along the Tethys lithosphere's length. Comparison with adjacent Dora Maira continental crustal units indicates early exhumation likely occurred within the subduction channel without continental crust buoyancy contribution.
Structural evolution along the Susa Shear Zone: the role of a first-order shear zone in the exhumation of meta-ophiolite units (Western Alps)
A significant new model explains the role of the Susa Shear Zone (SSZ) in the exhumation of meta-ophiolite units within the Western Alps, revealing its function as a first-order shear zone that couples tectonometamorphic units with distinct pressure-temperature (P–T) peaks. The study identifies two key shearing events (T1 and T2) during Alpine subduction and exhumation, characterized by contrasting kinematics—'apparent reverse' Top-to-E during early exhumation and Top-to-W during late exhumation. Detailed fieldwork and structural analysis allowed the reconstruction of four main deformation phases (D1 to D4), clarifying their relative timing and geometrical relationships. This four-step geodynamic model underscores the SSZ's critical role in shaping the axial sector of the Western Alps, offering insights into the complex tectonic processes governing mountain building.
Susa mint: 311-301 BC
A synchronous event across Seleukos’s mints in Babylonia and Susiana, marked by the erasure of the anchor symbol on the last reverse dies of Group 7 coins, provides a precise chronological peg for the final issues of Alexandrine coinage from the Susa mint (311–304/3 BC). This discovery updates the dating of these coins by a decade relative to previous proposals. The study identifies three distinct groups of coinage issued during this period: Groups 5 and 6, which bear a laurel wreath symbol (with Group 6 featuring additional symbols) and were struck simultaneously during the Babylonian War (c. 311/0–309/8 BC), and Group 7, characterized by the anchor symbol that replaced the laurel wreath post-war. The research employs a die study approach to analyze these groups, revealing insights into the chronological and symbolic evolution of Seleukos’s early coinage.
Scribal Training in Old Babylonian Susa
Scribal education in Old Babylonian Susa reveals significant adaptations of the Mesopotamian curriculum to fit the local linguistic environment, despite the overwhelming influence of Mesopotamian schooling. While Elamite language played almost no role in this scholastic context, the sequence of scribal training stages remained clearly traceable. The study of Susa's educational corpus uncovered many features of its unique curriculum, demonstrating that Mesopotamian models were not blindly adopted but tailored to local needs.
You are here:
World Heritage Explorer > World Heritage Research > World Heritage Sites > Susa