Slope movements shaping the landscape in the Daunia Apennines (Southern Italy), and their effects on the built-up environment

The southern Apennines of Italy are characterized for wide sectors by outcropping of clay materials, highly prone to slope movements. This determines a high susceptibility to landslides, which, combined to expansion of the urban areas during the second half of the last century, bring to high vulnerability, too. In Daunia, the hill-tomountain sector of Apulia, a transition area between the Apulian plain and the Apenninic Chain, slope movements represent the main agent modelling the landscape. They are mostly in a dormant state of activity, which nevertheless can change to active, generally due to rainfall or seismic triggers. A further triggering factor, which is quite often under estimated, is represented by the human action. Lack in the identification of ancient slope movements, and planning of engineering works and construction in landslide-prone areas, has often resulted in partial or total re-activations of ancient slope movements. In the present article, through analysis of an historical database about landslides in Daunia, we intend to investigate the control exerted by gravity-related phenomena on the landscape, the interaction between slope movements and human activities, and the effects produced by landslides on the anthropogenic environment. The issue of rainfall-triggered slope movements is also dealt with, with a first attempt in identifying pluviometric thresholds for the study area.