274 
NATURE 
[JANUARY 21, 1904 
EARTH-MOVEMENTS IN 
NAPLES. 
2 spite of the prolonged discussions on the question 
of changes in the relative level of land and sea 
in connection with the Temple of Serapis * at Pozzuoli, 
yet much remained unknown with respect to the move- 
ments of the Italian coast which it was surmised must 
have taken place since Roman times. An exclusive 
study of the columns of this building is insufficient to 
indicate the Roman sea-level relative to the land, for 
although the lowest portion of the columns, now below 
sea-level, was obviously above it, we cannot determine 
to what extent. Neither can we conjecture the size of 
THE BAY OF 
conjecture, as to the movement of the land spreading 
over a more considerable area than had been supposed 
| at first. 
the area affected by the movements; indeed, by the | 
undue prominence which has been almost universally 
accorded to the Serapis phenomena in geological 
treatises, many authorities, among whom was Prof. 
Suess, were led to the conclusion that the phenomena 
were strictly local and almost confined to the Bays of 
Fic. 1.—The Upper Groove of Erosion on Tufa Cliffs of Nisida. 
Note the difference of the texture of the surface below the upper erosion line, which has been 
preserved by submergence, and that above, which has been weathered. 
Baia and Pozzuoli, in short, to the country immediately 
surrounding Monte Nuovo. 
It was with the object of collecting facts for the 
elucidation of these points, that we undertook the work 
of surveying and describing the little-known remains 
of Roman constructions which are so numerous around 
the Bay of Naples. Some of them are still standing 
on the present water-line, while some are awash and 
some deep beneath the surface: and from localities | po: 
_ to distinguish between the natural and the artificial on 
furthest from Monte Nuovo, we obtained evidence 
of earth-movements not less great than from 
localities nearer the mountain; thereby confirming our 
1 The author's papers here summarised are :—‘On the Possibility of 
Obtaining more Reliable Measurements of the Changes of the Land-level of 
the Phlegraan Fields (Scottish Geographical Magazine, October, 19c0). 
“*Earth-movements in the Bay of Naples” (Geographical Journal, August 
and September, 1903). ‘‘The Submerged Greek and Roman Foreshore 
near Naples” (Archaeologia, vol. \viii. pp. 1-62, figs. 1-29, plates xly.-li., 
1903). A few copies of the two last papers, reprinted with corrections, 
have been issued under the title ‘‘Contributions to the Study of Earth 
Movements.” 
2 Macellum, or market-place, would be a more correct name for the 
building than ‘‘ Temple of Serapis.”’ 
NO. 1786, VOL. 69] 
| level. 
At many points on the coast (Fig. 1), and especially 
in the limestone cliffs of Capri, the observer may note 
a clearly marked line of grooves and holes at a height 
varying from 23 feet to 12 feet above the present sea- 
This line, which presents the same appearance 
as one which traverses the rock face along the present 
water-line, is undoubtedly due to the same cause, 
namely, the eroding action of the surface of the sea. 
The upper marks of erosion correspond in height with 
the highest Lithodomus borings in the columns of the 
Temple of Serapis, thus showing that the entire Bay 
of Naples took part in the movement of the subsidence 
and subsequent elevation of the temple, and, as 
evidence of the same sort is to be found forty miles 
north at Geta, and probably on the promontory of 
Mt. Circello as well, if atmospheric weathering has 
not obliterated the traces of marine erosipn, the same 
alteration of land-level must have 
affected a large extent of the Mediter- 
ranean sea-board. 
The changes of level have been 
deemed by some to be due to periodic 
changes in the level of the ocean. 
We are unable to accept this view, 
for we should expect the oscillations 
of the water-level to be of a regular 
and tide-like nature, as Niccolini, 
the eminent exponent of the theory, 
must himself have imagined, for the 
curve illustrative of his theory of 
marine phases is essentially a tidal 
curve, but the marks of erosion 
indicate spasmodic movements, 
changes of level during relatively 
short periods alternating with pro- 
longed periods of rest. Another 
point against the theory of the 
change of sea-level is that the line 
of erosion, though continuous, varies 
in height; for instance, at the east 
end of Capri it is 10 feet higher than 
at the west, and smaller variations 
have been noted elsewhere. These 
facts are more reasonably accounted 
for by a theory of change of land- 
level, rendering inequalities in the 
oscillatory movement natural, than 
by a theory involving changes in the 
level of the sea. 
Interesting as it is to search for 
the traces of her handiwork that nature leaves in her 
own domain of rocks and cliffs, yet we confess to an 
interest not less keen in seeking out those she has 
left on the handiwork of man, on the remains of the 
Roman buildings by the sea. Massive piles of 
masonry and concrete, once part of some noble build- 
ing, have been roughened by the never ceasing. on- 
slaught of the waves to the semblance of the brown 
rocks upon which they stand; and it is only possible 
calm days, when they can be seen through the clear 
water. 
It is the accumulated evidence furnished by these 
water-worn ruins that gives so strong a confirmation 
of our theory that, notwithstanding the oscillatory 
land-movement indicated by the upper erosion line 
before mentioned, the present land-level is far below 
the Roman land-level—how far we cannot exactly say, 
_ but we believe that the approximate figure of 17 feet 
will not be found to be very wide of the mark. 
