Today’s geological configuration of Basilicata is the result of massive tectonic deformations that have caused overlapping and shifting of rock masses, even of remarkable proportions, from West to East, resulting in a spatial contraction. The current geological, morphological and tectonic characteristics of the region can therefore be interpreted as the overall result of the tectonic upheavals, which on several occasions have affected the pre-existing geological units over time.
Matera represents a singular point of passage, in how much it rises on a carbonatic horst strongly disarticulated between the dominion of Avampaese and that of Avanfossa, today substantially stable. It is therefore possible to recognize a stratigraphic succession constituted by the substratum formed by the Murgian Cretaceous Limestones, about 60 million years ago, of marine origin called Limestone of Altamura, that emerges both in the highest part of the murgia Materana in the lower part of the ravine of Matera. On these rests the lithotypes of the sedimentary cycle of the Bradanica pit consisting, in the lowest level of limestone sands cemented called Calcarenite of Gravina dating back to about 1 million years ago. On the calcarenites rest in stratigraphic continuity the Subappennine Clays that constitute the base of the hills that surround the historic settlement and, on top of these, leave the pass to the Sands of Monte Marano and the Sands of Staturo. The stratigraphic succession ends with the presence of Terraced Marine Deposits and Irsina Conglomerate or Eluvio-colluvial deposits.
Along the steep walls of the Gravina di Matera it is possible to observe the succession of rocks originating from the geological evolution of the area. At the bottom of the valley you can see the Limestone of Altamura which overlap the deposits formed by the Calcarenite of Gravina. In the highest part of the slopes are still visible the Subappennine clays and the terraced sandy-gravelly sediments.
During the Creataceo Superiore over 65 million years ago, the scenery was characterized by a flat coastal marine environment of tropical climate, with wide and shallow seabeds, lagoons and beaches. In this environment lived algae and microscopic animals that produced a carbonate sludge in contact with which lived benthic animals such as Ostree, Mussel, Brachiopodi, Gasterpodi, Echinodermi, Pecten and Balani. The results of the sedimentation and diagenesis processes have made the Altamura limestone extraordinarily rich in fossils.
During the period between the Upper Pliocene and the Lower Pleistocene, around 2 million years ago, the pressure exerted by the load of the deposits that gradually accumulated originated the Calcarenite of Gravina. At the end of the Lower Pleistocene, a new lifting phase began, which continues to this day, which generated a progressive emergence of the area formed by the Altamura limestone and the Gravina calcarenite. In this phase a series of streams are established including the Gravina di Matera Torrent, which, thanks to its karst capacity deepens into sedimentary rocks until it reaches its current position.
The result of erosion by the Torrent Gravina di Matera is the picturesque gorge called Gravina di Matera.FOSSILE di PECTEN
Fossils embedded in the limestone of Altamura, dating back more than 60 million years ago, tell the story of the geological phenomena that occurred in the Park area following tectonic deformations. In the Cretaceous, in fact, the scenery was characterized by a flat coastal marine environment of tropical climate, perfect habitat for benthic animals such as Ostree, Mussels, Brachiopodi, Gasterpodi, Echinodermi, Pecten and Balani. The outcome of the processes of sedimentation and diagenesis of this area, have made the Limestone of Altamura extraordinarily rich in fossils.
The specimen of Pecten fossil, found near the altar dedicated to Sant’Antuono delli Appisi, is incredibly preserved and shows all the beauty of the shell with radial lines perfectly visible.
Pecten are a genus of bivalve shells belonging to the Pectinidae family. They have very ancient origins, and the first specimens have appeared at the beginning of the Cenozoic, but are still present in our seas with different species and the most common is certainly the Capasanta.Limestone-quartz sands (Sabbie di monte Marano, Sabbie delle Staturo)Limestone-quartz sands (Sabbie di monte Marano, Sabbie delle Staturo)Calcarenite of GravinaCalcari di Altamura.
