Ancient Seismic Activity: Gibralter & Sicily

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Ramon Barbosa - 24 Sep 2003 23:54 GMT

Greetings:

I've been wondering about the geologic history of the areas of the
Strait of Gibralter and the southern tip of Sicily.

Can anyone point me to current scientific theory that might lend
substantiation to the claim that, perhaps over 33,800 years ago,
violent volcanic activity in the area surrounding the Mediterranean
Sea might have caused the breaking up of the Gibralter land connection
to Africa, the consequent submergence of the Sicilian land bridge to
Africa, the subsequent sinking of the eastern floor of the
Mediterranean Sea, and the up-thrust of the Mediterranean coast of
Syria?

Sincerely,
Ramon Barbosa

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Ken Down - 25 Sep 2003 08:03 GMT

> Can anyone point me to current scientific theory that might lend
> substantiation to the claim that, perhaps over 33,800 years ago,
[quoted text clipped - 4 lines]
> Mediterranean Sea, and the up-thrust of the Mediterranean coast of
> Syria?

Curiously enough, I question your date. Strabo (I think - if you're really
interested I can check) says that in his day there was a stone monument on
the Italian shore overlooking the Straits of Messina commemorating the
separation of Sicily from the mainland. As I doubt that there were
Latin-speaking (or Greek-speaking) humans around 33,800 years ago . . .

Ken Down

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Eric Stevens - 26 Sep 2003 03:28 GMT

>> Can anyone point me to current scientific theory that might lend
>> substantiation to the claim that, perhaps over 33,800 years ago,
[quoted text clipped - 10 lines]
>separation of Sicily from the mainland. As I doubt that there were
>Latin-speaking (or Greek-speaking) humans around 33,800 years ago . . .

Your response has sent me hunting and I found
http://82.1911encyclopedia.org/G/GE/GEOLOGY.htm which has some
interesting sections on the beliefs of the ancients.

Eric Stevens

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Natural Science Forum / Earth Science / Oceanography / September 2003

Ancient Seismic Activity: Gibralter & Sicily