Tectonics and Structural Geology

Geology in the city

Paris: From quarry to catacombs

Anouk Beniest February 2, 2018

The Notre Dame, almost entirely built from Parisian Limestone, from the Lutetian Age. Credit: Anouk Beniest

Paris, 2000 ya. Claude is sweating all over. It’s mid-July and the sun is burning on his skin. With his hammer and shovel he is digging up grey and white stones. The faults and fractures in the rock help him to get the rocks out easily. But still, it’s hot and humid and his shift isn’t over yet. Luckily he can’t complain about the view. Lutetia, one of the new Roman settlements lies right in front ...[Read More]

How Rome and its geology are strongly connected

Elenora van Rijsingen December 3, 2017

The typical sanpietrini - small cubed-shaped blocks made of volcanic rock - used as pavement in one of Trasteveres small streets. Credit: Elenora van Rijsingen

Walking through an ancient and fascinating city like Rome, there are signs of history everywhere. The whole city forms an open-air museum, full of remnants of many different times the city has known, from the Imperial to the Medieval times, the Renaissance, the Fascist period, and finally the present day version of Rome. For historians and archaeologists, unravelling the exact history of the city ...[Read More]