Large Ancient Landslides in Trentino, Northeastern Alps, as Evidence of Postglacial Dynamics

Abstract

The mountain landscape of Trentino (northeastern Italy) is characterized by the presence of a series of large-scale landslides locally known as marocche. Remarkable examples are represented by the so-called Lavini di Marco, Marocche di Dro and Marocche di Molveno. Various hypotheses have been suggested regarding the origin of these landslides. Some authors have proposed a glacial rather than a gravitational origin. Other authors maintained that marocche should be referred to rock avalanches which occurred in glacial conditions and whose accumulations must have been distributed by glacial processes. The latter interpretation cannot be accepted since the largest landslide is far more recent than Late-Glacial Age. Many concordant chronological data tend to ascribe them to the Holocene, between 3000 and 1000 years BP.