New morphostratigraphic and chronological constraints for the Quaternary palaeosurfaces of the Molise Apennines (southern Italy)

The Molise Apennines feature numerous relicts of paleosurfaces, mostly of erosional origin, which representthe remnants of gently-rolling ancient landscapes now hanging at different altitudes above the local base-levels oferosion. Their genesis can be related to prolonged periods of relative tectonic stability alternating with periods of uplift,or to the interplay between steady tectonic uplift and climatic fluctuations. Four orders of paleosurfaces were recognized:I ( > 1,100 m a.s.l.), II (900—1,000 m a.s.l.), III (750—850 m a.s.l.), IV (600—720 m a.s.l.). The most ancient orders(I and II) are cut into the bedrock and are located at the top of the Matese and Montagnola di Frosolone massifs. Theyoungest paleosurfaces (III—IV), partially cut into Quaternary deposits, are found along the valley flanks of the mainriver systems and within the Boiano, Carpino, Isernia and Sessano intramontane basins. The present study deals withthe dating of the Sessano Basin Paleosurface (SBP) which is related to the IV order and is cut into the basin infill. The40Ar/39Ar age of a tephra layer (437 ± 1.9 ka), intercalated at the top of the succession, supported by archaeo-stratigraphic,palynological and paleopedological data, allowed the SBP surface to be constrained to 350—300 ka. The SBPchronological position represents an important morphostratigraphic marker: it is the first ante quem and post quem datethat allows the chronological position of the other orders of paleosurfaces to be better constrained.