Proceedings of the 12th International INQUA meeting on paleoseismology, active tectonic and archaeoseismology

the Catalogue of Geological Effects in Spain (Silva et al., 2019). Some of these events contains important archaeoseismic damage, which analysis deserved to compare the dimensions and type of EAE with the MSK and EMS98 scales complementing and refining macroseismic analyses. However, continuous research and collaboration with archaeological teams indicate that the list of these medieval events are not truly complete. This is the case of the recently published probable seismic event causing the destruction and abandonment of the luxurious palatial city of Medina Azahara, seat of the Umayyad Caliphate at Cordoba, in the late 11th century (Rodríguez-Pascua et al., 2023). C O N C L U S I O N S The recovering of ancient earthquakes combining archaeological and geological records in Spain allowed to incorporate about 15 news earthquakes occurred before the 1st Millenium CE. This allowed to upgrade the seismic history of the Iberian Peninsula beginning to add events in the presently depleted historical seismic catalogues using scientifically based macroseismic information going back to the Neolithic and Bronze Age periods. Data from these new events together with that coming from historical Middle Ages events, clearly identify the recurrent activity for several hundred years of three main crustal structures (Fig. 1): 1) The Eastern Betics Shear Zone; 2) Frontal Betic thrust; and the so-called 3) Guadalquivir Fault limiting the foreland basin of the Betic Cordillera. Aside from these structures some events (Complutum, Egitania) testify the long-lasting activity of faults in the central sector of the peninsula commonly out of the ruling seismic catalogues and paleoseismic studies. The most important grouping of ancient events occurs during the Late-Roman times, which can be explained by: (a) the occurrence of a real seismic crisis from the late 4th century to the 6th century CE coinciding with the “Fall of the Roman Empire” in western Europe; or (b) an artificial grouping of post- roman events occurred during the 1st Millenium, before the establishment of the “Caliphate of Cordoba” (Middle 8th century), affecting nearly abandoned roman sites. In both cases, the collapse of the Roman Empire in the studied regions would not support the further reconstruction of damaged cities (e.g. Complutum, Baelo). Additionally, in the second case most constructions, structures and remains to be affected in case of earthquake will be those that survived after the Fall of the Roman Empire since Visigoth buildings and remains are very scarce, especially around the Betic Cordillera. Visigoths didn’t build relevant buildings or monuments recycling as much as possible the surviving Roman structures. Only capitols, baptism piles and carved tombs in the rocks are the most frequent archaeological remains in Andalusia. A C K N O W L E D G E M E N T S This research is part of the Spanish Research Project I+D+i PID2021-123510OB-I00 funded by MICIN AEI/10.13039/501100011033/. (QTECIBERIA-USAL).