Base level changes, river avulsions and Holocene human settlement dynamics in the Caspian Sea area (middle Kura valley, South Caucasus)

Ollivier, Vincent; Fontugne, Michel; Lyonnet, Bertille; Chataigner, Christine

doi:10.1016/j.quaint.2015.03.017

Cited by 32 publications

(24 citation statements)

References 57 publications

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“…3) and the hydraulic structure were probably developed during the same period. Another example of anthropogenic type channels was also found in Mentesh Tepe (Lyonnet et al, 2016;Ollivier et al, 2016). In this excavation, more modest-sized ditches than in Gadachrili were filled with alluvial material or runoff.…”

Section: Alluvial Units and Anthropogenic-type Channels Morphologymentioning

confidence: 59%

“…4e8, Figs. 11 and 12) by their intensity and seem to acquire a more regional character (Ollivier et al, 2015(Ollivier et al, , 2016. The stratigraphic flood sequences observed also underline the high long-term mobility and palaeohydrological variability of the Shulaveri river course (Fig.…”

Section: Palaeohydrologymentioning

confidence: 64%

“…We conducted upstream-downstream research on the Shulaveri Ghele during our previous work in the Middle Kura valley defining the inland impact of the Caspian Sea relative level changes (Ollivier and Fontugne, 2012;Ollivier et al, 2015Ollivier et al, , 2016Ollivier et al, 2015). The alluvial formation organisation was determined along the Shulaveri Ghele river.…”

Section: Geomorphologymentioning

confidence: 99%

“…We did not actually calculate the hydraulic components in Mentesh Tepe because the river network supplying the anthropic channel was different to today's network and needs further physiographic reconstruction (Ollivier et al, 2015(Ollivier et al, , 2016. In Gadachrili, a detailed analysis of the sequences filling the channels C3 and C4 makes it possible to relatively define the flow velocities and to trace the history of their use (Fig.…”

Section: Palaeohydrologymentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Defining clear prehistoric water management structures in the landscape and in stratigraphy is a difficult task due to their low archaeological visibility. In the Lesser Caucasus, signs of small artificial channel structures have been observed during the excavations of some Neolithic sites in Azerbaijan (Lyonnet et al, 2012(Lyonnet et al, , 2016Ollivier et al, 2016) and Georgia (Hansen and Mirtskhulava, 2012), but their role has not been clearly defined as they have revealed limited evidence for runoff both through stratigraphy and sedimentology. With surface water management, channels vary widely in shape, size, and hydraulic characteristics (Bishop et al, 1967;Aurenche, 1982).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Neolithic water management and flooding in the Lesser Caucasus (Georgia)

Ollivier

Fontugne

Hamon³

et al. 2018

Quaternary Science Reviews

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River management is generally thought to have started at 5500 cal. BC within the development of eastern Neolithic societies. In the Lesser Caucasus, evidence of early river management has been discovered around the famous Neolithic sites of Shulaveri, Gadachrili Gora, and Imiris Gora in Georgia. Here we report a preliminary data set indicating that river management was set up at 5900 cal. BC leading to the flooding, destruction, and local abandonment of the hydraulic infrastructures of the Gadachrili village between 5750 and 5430 cal. BC. The hydraulic infrastructures were developed during a more humid period encompassing the 8200 cal. BP (6200 cal. BC) climatic event, probably to optimize agricultural yield. It potentially led to the first prehistoric engineering accident for which there is evidence, which may have been followed by the reorganisation of the occupation and/or to architectural modifications.

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Section: Alluvial Units and Anthropogenic-type Channels Morphologymentioning

confidence: 59%

Section: Palaeohydrologymentioning

confidence: 64%

Section: Geomorphologymentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Palaeohydrologymentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 3 more Smart Citations

Neolithic water management and flooding in the Lesser Caucasus (Georgia)

Ollivier

Fontugne

Hamon³

et al. 2018

Quaternary Science Reviews

Self Cite

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A first Holocene leaf wax isotope‐based paleoclimate record from the semi‐humid to semi‐arid south‐eastern Caucasian lowlands

Bliedtner

Zech

et al. 2020

J Quaternary Science

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The Holocene paleoclimate of the Caucasus region is rather complex and not yet well understood: while existing studies are mainly based on pollen records from high‐altitude and humid lowland regions, no records are available from the semi‐humid to semi‐arid south‐eastern Caucasian lowlands. Therefore, this study investigated compound‐specific δ2H and δ13C isotopes of leaf wax biomarkers from Holocene floodplain soils in eastern Georgia. Our results show that the leaf wax δ2H signal from the paleosols mostly reflects changes in the moisture source and its isotopic composition. Depleted δ2H values before ~8 cal ka bp change towards enriched values after ~5 cal ka bp and become again depleted after ~1.6 cal ka bp. This trend could be caused by Holocene changes of the isotopic compositions of the Black and eastern Mediterranean Sea, and/or by varying contribution of both moisture sources linked with the North Atlantic Oscillation. The leaf wax δ13C signal from the paleosols directly indicates varying local water availability and drought stress. Depleted δ13C values before ~8 and after ~5 cal ka bp indicate wetter local conditions with higher water availability, whereas more enriched values during the middle Holocene (~8 until at least 5 cal ka bp) indicate drier conditions with increased drought stress.

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Middle Pleistocene environments, landscapes and tephrostratigraphy of the Armenian Highlands: evidence from Bird Farm 1, Hrazdan Valley

Sherriff

Wilkinson

Harding

et al. 2021

J Quaternary Science

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The significance of the southern Caucasus in understanding Pleistocene hominin expansions is well established. However, the palaeoenvironments in which Palaeolithic occupation of the region took place are presently poorly defined. The Hrazdan river valley, Armenian Highlands, contains a rich Palaeolithic record alongside Middle Pleistocene volcanic, fluvial and lacustrine strata, and thus offer exciting potential for palaeoenvironmental reconstruction. We present the first results of sedimentological, geochemical, tephrostratigraphical and biological (diatoms) study of the sequence of Bird Farm 1, located in the central part of the valley. These data show six phases of landscape development during the interval 440-200 ka. The sequence represents the first quantitative Pleistocene diatom record from the Armenian Highlands and the southern Caucasus, and indicates the persistence of a deep, stratified lacustrine system, with evidence for changing lake productivity that is tentatively linked to climate. Furthermore, major element chemical characterization of visible and crypto-tephra horizons in the sequence enables the first stages of the development of a regional tephrostratigraphy. Together, the evidence from Bird Farm 1 demonstrates the importance of lacustrine archives in the region for palaeoenvironmental reconstruction and highlights the potential for linkages between archives on both a local and regional scale.

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Base level changes, river avulsions and Holocene human settlement dynamics in the Caspian Sea area (middle Kura valley, South Caucasus)

Cited by 32 publications

References 57 publications

Neolithic water management and flooding in the Lesser Caucasus (Georgia)

Neolithic water management and flooding in the Lesser Caucasus (Georgia)

A first Holocene leaf wax isotope‐based paleoclimate record from the semi‐humid to semi‐arid south‐eastern Caucasian lowlands

Middle Pleistocene environments, landscapes and tephrostratigraphy of the Armenian Highlands: evidence from Bird Farm 1, Hrazdan Valley

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