Holocene coastal change in the ancient harbor of Yenikapı–İstanbul and its impact on cultural history

Abstract

An extensive rescue excavation has been conducted in the ancient harbor of İstanbul (Yenikapı) by the Sea of Marmara, revealing a depositional sequence displaying clear evidence of transgression and coastal progradation during the Holocene. The basal layer of this sequence lies at 6 m below the present sea level and contains remains of a Neolithic settlement known to have been present in the area, indicating that the sea level at ~ 8–9 cal ka BP was lower than 6 m below present. Sea level advanced to its maximum at ~ 6.8–7 cal ka BP, drowning Lykos Stream and forming an inlet at its mouth. After ~ 3 cal ka BP, coastal progradation became evident. Subsequent construction of the Byzantine Harbor (Theodosius; 4th century AD) created a restricted small basin and accumulation of fine-grained sediments. The sedimentation rate was increased due to coastal progradation and anthropogenic factors during the deposition of coarse-grained sediments at the upper parts of the sequence (7th–9th centuries AD). The harbor was probably abandoned after the 11th century AD by filling up with Lykos Stream detritus and continued seaward migration of the coastline.

Late Holocene palaeoenvironmental evolution of the northern harbour at the Elaiussa Sebaste archaeological site (south-eastern Turkey): evidence from core ELA6

“…Geoscientific methods (mainly sedimentology, palaeontology, pollen analysis, and geophysics) are increasingly applied to archaeological research (e.g., Bernasconi et al, 2006Bernasconi et al, , 2007Marriner and Morhange, 2007;Algan et al, 2011;Di Rita et al, 2011;Stock et al, 2013;Schneider et al, 2014;Seeliger et al, 2014). They can be used in various fields of research since they can be very interesting tools in helping to define ancient environments, the origin of human settlements, and the natural and human processes that have controlled the evolution of the territory.…”

The Purpose and Age of Underwater Walls in the Bay of Elaia of Western Turkey: A Multidisciplinary Approach

“…Several Mediterranean harbour cities have been studied over the last years dealing with regard to landscape history, utilisation of harbour basins in general, as well as harbour-related facilities such as breakwaters and wharfs (e.g., Reinhardt & Raban, 1999;Brückner, 2003;Morhange et al 2003;Galili, Zviely, & Weinstein-Evron, 2005;Brückner et al, 2006;Kraft et al, 2007;Marriner & Morhange, 2007;Vött et al, 2007;Marriner, Morhange, & Saghieh-Beydoun, 2008;Bini et al, 2009;Algan et al, 2011;Kızıldag,Özdaş, & Ulug, 2012;Stanley & Bernasconi, 2012;Brückner et al, 2013;Hadler et al, 2013;Özdaş & Kızıldag, 2013;Seeliger et al, 2013). For most of human history-from the Stone Age to modern times-harbours have played important roles in terms of trade, travelling, maritime traffic and economic centres.…”

Dendroarchaeology of the mid-first millennium AD in Constantinople

“…and detailed studies by Algan et al (2011Algan et al ( , 2009, that the chaotic sedimentary unit represents a longer duration of deposition than for a single catastrophic event. Algan et al (2009Algan et al ( , 2011 do not rule out the possibility that tsunami or flood events (intense rainfall is possible in the area (Göktürk et al, 2011)) may be present within the unit; however, they suggest that the majority of the material was deposited as a result of day-to-day activities within the Byzantine breakwater. In this scenario our current data may point to a change in depositional regime (perhaps caused by construction of a new harbor wall) sometime after AD 588.…”

“…The complete geoarchaeological record from this site now extends back over 8000 years (Algan et al, 2009(Algan et al, , 2011. The remains of the harbor, however, currently exposed across 26,250 square meters (Alguadiş and Batchelder, 2007), date from the time of Constantine (AD 306e337) or Theodosius I (AD 379e395) (Müller-Wiener, 2001) and were in use until the 7th century AD and later.…”