COMMENTS

Several works on the stratigraphy, geomorphology, and tectonics of the Gargano 
area are published in the Italian literature (see references), but in general they do 
not consider the relations of the seismicity with the tectonic setting nor 
investigate the possible location of the seismic sources. The generation of a 
tsunamigenic wave following the 1627 earthquake is generally considered 
evidence for an offshore source.  This circumstance, along with the limited 
evidence available at the surface, may be the reasons for the scarce investigations 
aimed at the identification of the source of this large earthquake.


 OPEN QUESTIONS

1) There is fundamental uncertainty even on the kinematics of this event: was 
this a strike-slip event related to Apennines-perpendicular compression? Or a 
strike-slip event related to Apennines-parallel compression? Or a reverse 
faulting event on a blind fault, which would best explain the occurrence of the 
tsunami?

2) Is the structure proposed by Salvi et al. 1999 the true seismogenic source of the 
1627 earthquake? Could this geomorphic feature be inherited by the previous 
tectonic activity that produced a ridge sealed by alluvial plain deposits?

3) What about the possibility that the 1627 earthquake occurred on a hypothetical 
blind prolongation of the Mattinata fault to the west?
