Geomorphological investigations coupled with sedimentological, petrographical, and SEM analyses allowed to identify, for the first time, a paleo-fixed and inland aeolian dune field in the Gioia Tauro Plain, on the Tyrrhenian side of southern Calabria (southern Italy). The aeolian landforms, extended over an area of 43 km², are characterized by smoothed and elongated NW-SE trending vegetation-fixed linear dunes, varying in height from a few meters up to 20 m.

Forty sand samples were collected from dunes to perform laboratory analyses. Grain size analyses showed that samples are composed of unimodal coarse-grained sands (Mz = 0.820 φ), moderately sorted (σ = 0.862), positively skewed (Sk1 = 0.173) and mesokurtic (KG = 1.115). Petrographic analyses highlighted a composition dominated by quartz and minor feldspars. Modal data, and especially the high F/Q ratio and the Rg:Rs:Rm triangular plot, suggest a plutoniclastic supply from the Aspromonte Massif crystalline source rocks. SEM analyses of sand grains clearly displayed the presence of typical wind-generated features mainly represented by rounded form with low relief, bulbous edges, and dish-shaped depressions. These results combined with morphological analyses showed that these aeolian deposits fall into the category of sand sheets. Furthermore, geological and geoarchaeological data evidenced that dune field was formed in the time interval between ~28 ka and the VI - IV century B.C. The dune filed formation has been interrupted presumably by the combined effect of Holocene tectonics, along the Gioia Tauro-San Ferdinando normal fault, and the lowering of sea level, during the Last Glacial period, originating a natural barrier to windblown sand particles.

The findings of the paper will help in understanding both inland aeolian products in southern Europe associated to the second colder phase of the Last Glacial period in the Mediterranean area and the complex patterns of spatial and temporal distribution, as well as the control factors determining preservation of the aeolian sediments throughout the rock record.

地貌学研究加上沉积学，岩石学和SEM分析，首次确定了卡拉布里亚南部（意大利南部）第勒尼安一侧的Gioia Tauro平原的古固定内陆风沙丘田。风沙地貌面积超过43 km ²，其特征是平滑且细长的NW-SE趋势植被固定线性沙丘，高度从几米到20 m不等。

从沙丘中收集了40个沙子样品进行实验室分析。粒度分析表明，样品由单峰粗粒砂（Mz = 0.820φ），适度分选（σ= 0.862），正偏斜（Sk1 = 0.173）和中速（KG = 1.115）组成。岩相学分析突出显示了以石英和次长石为主的成分。模态数据，尤其是高F / Q比和Rg：Rs：Rm三角图，表明来自Aspromonte Massif结晶源岩的古生代供应。沙粒的SEM分析清楚地显示了典型的风力生成特征，主要表现为具有低浮雕，球形边缘和碟形凹陷的圆形形状。这些结果与形态分析相结合，表明这些风沙沉积物属于砂岩类。此外，

本文的研究结果将有助于了解与地中海地区最后一次冰期的第二个较冷期有关的欧洲南部内陆风积，以及时空分布的复杂模式，以及决定保藏的控制因素。整个岩石记录中的风沙沉积。