Indagine geo-archeologica sulla Penisola Sorrentina e l'isola di Capri

Abstract The Surrentine Peninsula and the island of Capri configure orographically as an area of the Apennine mountain ridge from which stand apart as a East-West continuation. The events at the origin of the tectonic and morphological structure of the Sorrento Peninsula and the island of Capri fall in the geological history of the southern Apennines. Such geological conformation has affected the natural process of human settlement of the area, whose oldest attendance is attested since the Lower Palaeolithic. In fact, date back to this epoch the first findings testify to a human adaptation to the land on which they lived, creating a close bond with it stretched the exploitation of resources. Due to the proximity of the active volcanic areas of the district of Naples to the Surrentine Peninsula, the people who settled in the area have been constantly experimenting, since prehistoric times, not only landslides but also the situation of volcanic risk, they are still exposed. This has produced a series of constructions and reconstructions that are a clear sign that the main resources did not come never fails. The mountain range behind it ensured the possibility of withdrawal in case of attacks from the sea, and likewise the steep coastal-cliffs were a valuable source of defense; the fertile and lush soil due to the presence of rich aquifers and natural springs, is at the same time shaded by rich Mediterranean vegetation, which has always exploited to extract timber. Abstract The Surrentine Peninsula and the island of Capri configure orographically as an area of the Apennine mountain ridge from which stand apart as a East-West continuation. The events at the origin of the tectonic and morphological structure of the Sorrento Peninsula and the island of Capri fall in the geological history of the southern Apennines. Such geological conformation has affected the natural process of human settlement of the area, whose oldest attendance is attested since the Lower Palaeolithic. In fact, date back to this epoch the first findings testify to a human adaptation to the land on which they lived, creating a close bond with it stretched the exploitation of resources. Due to the proximity of the active volcanic areas of the district of Naples to the Surrentine Peninsula, the people who settled in the area have been constantly experimenting, since prehistoric times, not only landslides but also the situation of volcanic risk, they are still exposed. This has produced a series of constructions and reconstructions that are a clear sign that the main resources did not come never fails. The mountain range behind it ensured the possibility of withdrawal in case of attacks from the sea, and likewise the steep coastal-cliffs were a valuable source of defense; the fertile and lush soil due to the presence of rich aquifers and natural springs, is at the same time shaded by rich Mediterranean vegetation, which has always exploited to extract timber.

Riassunto La Penisola sorrentina e l’Isola di Capri si configurano orograficamente come un settore della dorsale montuosa appenninica dalla quale si distaccano come prosecuzione in senso Est-Ovest. Le vicende all'origine dell'attuale struttura tettonica e morfologica della Penisola sorrentina e dell'Isola di Capri rientrano nella storia geologica dell'Appennino meridionale. Tale conformazione geologica ha influito sul processo di antropizzazione dell'area, la cui più antica frequentazione è attestata fin dal Paleolitico. Infatti, risalgono a quest’epoca i primi ritrovamenti umani che testimoniano un adattamento al territorio sul quale vivevano, creando con esso uno stretto legame teso allo sfruttamento delle risorse. Per la vicinanza della Penisola alle aree vulcanicamente attive del distretto napoletano, le popolazioni insediatesi della zona avranno costantemente sperimentato, fin dai tempi preistorici, non solo la franosità ma anche la situazione di rischio vulcanico, a cui sono tuttora esposte. Ciò ha prodotto una serie di costruzioni e ricostruzioni, che costituiscono un segno evidente che le risorse principali non sono venute mai a mancare. La catena montuosa alle spalle assicurava infatti la possibilità di ritiro in caso di assalti dal mare; allo stesso modo le ripide coste a falesia costituivano un valido elemento di difesa; il terreno, fertile e rigoglioso per la presenza di ricche falde acquifere e di sorgenti naturali, è allo stesso tempo ombreggiato dalla ricca vegetazione di tipo mediterraneo, da sempre sfruttata per ricavarne legname.