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Throughout its geologic history, the Black Sea experienced major sea level changes accompanied by severe environmental modifications, including geomorphologic reshaping. The most spectacular changes were driven by the Quaternary glaciations and deglaciations that reflect responses to Milankovitch cycles of 100 and 20 ky periodicity. Major sea level changes were also considered for a shorter and more recent cyclicity. The concept of the Phanagorian re-and transgression cycle, supposedly with a minimum sea level stand of 5-6 m below its present position in the middle of the 1st millennium BC, was established in 1963 by Fedorov for the Black Sea region. It was based on archaeological and palaeogeographical research conducted around the ancient Greek colonies of the Cimmerian Bosporus, in particular at the name giving site of Phanagoria, where underwater prospection had revealed the presence of a large number of submerged relics of the Classical Greek era. Analyses of sediment cores as well as 14C-dated fossil coastal bars in the western and southern parts of Taman Peninsula show that contemporary coastal bars are related to different sea levels. The dissymmetry can reach up to 6 m around 500 BC. This and more evidence from drill cores confirms that on Taman Peninsula many of the apparent sea level changes are tectonically induced. The subsidence may have been initiated by the release of gas from mud volcanoes inherited along anticline axes. Other observations around the Black Sea confirm that submerged archaeological sites correspond to areas where subsidence has taken places, while the so-called Holocene highstandsaid to have been located above the present-day sea level -is associated with uplift areas (triggered by the ongoing Caucasus orogeny). Recent oceanographic research carried out in the Black Sea area shows that since the Black Sea was reconnected with the Mediterranean Sea (i.e., 7500 14C BP at the latest), both marine water bodies have been in equilibrium. This fact and arguments from archaeology, history, hydrodynamics etc. lead us to question the existence of the Phanagorian regression. It is important to note that none of the sea level curves established for the (eastern) Mediterranean shows a comparable regression/transgression cycle of several metres during the 1st millennium BC. AbstractThroughout its geologic history, the Black Sea experienced major sea level changes accompanied by severe environmental modifications, including geomorphologic reshaping. The most spectacular changes were driven by the Quaternary glaciations and deglaciations that reflect responses to Milankovitch cycles of 100 and 20 ky periodicity. Major sea level changes were also considered for a shorter and more recent cyclicity. Actually, the concept of the Phanagorian re-and transgression cycle, supposedly with a minimum sea-level stand of 5-6 m below its present position in the middle of the 1 st millennium BC, was established in 1963 (Fedorov 1963) for the Black Sea region. It was based on archaeological and palaeogeographica...

Pergamum (modern: Bergama) was operating an important harbour used by military forces and merchants at the city of Elaia during Hellenistic and Roman Imperial times. Harbour‐related facilities such as warehouses, breakwaters and wharfs document the importance of this harbour site not only for the Pergamenians. This paper focuses on the purpose and age of six submerged wall structures situated approximately 1 km south of the ancient closed harbour basin of Elaia. Geoelectric cross‐sections and semi‐aquatic coring near these walls failed to detect any solid basement under the walls which excludes their possible use as breakwaters or wharfs. Instead, the walls were most likely delineating and separating evaporation ponds of salt works, which compares well with similar structures from other periods and places around the Mediterranean. Combined OSL and 14C‐dating determined the construction age of the installation between the 4th and 6th centuries A.D. Subsequent (re‐)uses are likely and are in agreement with findings from archaeological surveys.

The Kolkheti lowlands (Colchis, Colchian plain) form the central part of the extensive coastal lowlands along the Black Sea coast of Georgia. Situated between the Greater and the Lesser Caucasus, favourable climatic conditions resulted in a constant human occupation of the region during the Holocene. However, due to continued deltaic sedimentation and alluviation of the river Rioni, the configuration and the environmental conditions of the coast and its hinterland have changed considerably; this was related to sea-level fluctuations of the Black Sea and variation of the sediment supply. This study presents new data on the Holocene coastal evolution of Western Georgia. Based on the geochemical and sedimentological analysis of sediment cores and trenches from the northern part of the Kolkheti lowlands, between the Black Sea and the rivers Rioni and Khobistsqali, and a robust chronology (14 C and IRSL dating), our goals are (i) to document the chronostratigraphy along two coring transects; (ii) to decipher geographical and environmental changes along Georgia's Black Sea coast; and (iii) to trace the sea-level evolution of the study area. Based on the succession of eight facies, representing different depositional environments, our results suggest that significant environmental changes took place throughout the last eight millennia. At least since 5000 cal BC, the sedimentary record indicates the widespread existence of shallow lagoons. Floodplain-related finegrained alluvium accumulated on top of the lagoonal stratum. The progradation of the delta plain between 3500 and 1500 cal BC was accompanied by the evolution of extensive swamps with peat formation. The data indicate a gradual and moderate sea-level rise since ~6000 BC. Ultimately, this and follow-up studies may provide a valuable background for the understanding of the palaeogeographical context of ancient settlements in the area.