The "Palaeoseismological Museum of Tyrnavos" (PMT) in Central Greece is the first example in Europe and in the Western World of a similar infrastructure. Indeed, other two museums have been realized in Japan, a country characterised by an intense and strong seismicity as well as a deep seismic culture. However, in contrast with the Japanese museums where only the last event is shown (Nobi 1894 and Kobe 1995, respectively), the PMT represents the first example in the world where the visitors will have the opportunity to observe a 25+ ka of continuous activity along a fault with more than 10 morphogenic events. Moreover, in this sector of Northern Thessaly, the occurrence of a seismic gap has been suggested (Caputo, 1995), and the Tyrnavos Fault is one of the candidates for future earthquakes. The realisation of the PMT represents a multifaceted undertaking, spanning from the scientific to the educational and obviously to the cultural aspects. The scientific aspects are certainly important and play a crucial role in similar geological and tectonic conditions. Indeed the excavation of palaeoseismological trenches across faults with clear 'geological' evidence of recent activity, but completely lacking of any instrumental and/or historical activity, likely represents one of the major investigation tools able to provide information on the seismotectonic characteristics of a fault and particularly its maximum expected magnitude and the return period of the major events. Such information are fundamental for correctly estimating the seismic hazard of a region and become impelling for densely inhabited areas. On the other hand, the educational aspects of the PMT are twofold. Firstly, the guided visits of students belonging to any school order (from primary to graduate) will certainly contribute to a better understanding of the natural processes, like the earthquake and its effects, which could have important consequences in our life. Due to its uniqueness, the PMT could easily become an attraction at the European level if properly included in the touristic tours across Greece. Secondly, in the frame of the PMT activities, the excavation of new trenches could strongly contribute to the training of young researchers and post-graduate students by introducing them to these investigation techniques. Finally, from a cultural point of view, the PMT will definitely play an important role for the dissemination and the strengthening of a seismic culture among the population, because it is commonly obliterated from the traditions and the everyday behaviour due to psycological, social and historical reasons, therefore causing the complete lack of preparadness once the next earthquake will occur.
Risque sismique et patrimoine, une association paradoxale pour l'éducation du public? Une expérience inédite: la réalisation du premier Musée européen de paléosismologie et d'archéosismologie à Tyrnavos (Thessalie, Grèce).
CAPUTO, Riccardo;
2008
Abstract
The "Palaeoseismological Museum of Tyrnavos" (PMT) in Central Greece is the first example in Europe and in the Western World of a similar infrastructure. Indeed, other two museums have been realized in Japan, a country characterised by an intense and strong seismicity as well as a deep seismic culture. However, in contrast with the Japanese museums where only the last event is shown (Nobi 1894 and Kobe 1995, respectively), the PMT represents the first example in the world where the visitors will have the opportunity to observe a 25+ ka of continuous activity along a fault with more than 10 morphogenic events. Moreover, in this sector of Northern Thessaly, the occurrence of a seismic gap has been suggested (Caputo, 1995), and the Tyrnavos Fault is one of the candidates for future earthquakes. The realisation of the PMT represents a multifaceted undertaking, spanning from the scientific to the educational and obviously to the cultural aspects. The scientific aspects are certainly important and play a crucial role in similar geological and tectonic conditions. Indeed the excavation of palaeoseismological trenches across faults with clear 'geological' evidence of recent activity, but completely lacking of any instrumental and/or historical activity, likely represents one of the major investigation tools able to provide information on the seismotectonic characteristics of a fault and particularly its maximum expected magnitude and the return period of the major events. Such information are fundamental for correctly estimating the seismic hazard of a region and become impelling for densely inhabited areas. On the other hand, the educational aspects of the PMT are twofold. Firstly, the guided visits of students belonging to any school order (from primary to graduate) will certainly contribute to a better understanding of the natural processes, like the earthquake and its effects, which could have important consequences in our life. Due to its uniqueness, the PMT could easily become an attraction at the European level if properly included in the touristic tours across Greece. Secondly, in the frame of the PMT activities, the excavation of new trenches could strongly contribute to the training of young researchers and post-graduate students by introducing them to these investigation techniques. Finally, from a cultural point of view, the PMT will definitely play an important role for the dissemination and the strengthening of a seismic culture among the population, because it is commonly obliterated from the traditions and the everyday behaviour due to psycological, social and historical reasons, therefore causing the complete lack of preparadness once the next earthquake will occur.I documenti in SFERA sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
