Holocene Depositional Patterns and Evolution in Alexandria's Eastern Harbor, Egypt

Traces of Holocene tsunamis across the Sound of Lefkada, NW Greece

“…1 and 3, Vött et al, 2007b). Goff et al (1998), Goiran (2001), Stanley and Bernasconi (2006), Alvarez-Zarikian et al (in press), and Marriner and Morhange (2007) used ex-situ findings of diatoms and/or marine macro-and microfauna as indicators for tsunami impacts. Using this approach for our studies, microfossil analyses of sediment samples from lagoonal innersound cores clearly document tsunamigenic high energy influence from the seaside ( Fig.…”

“…In central Greece, tsunami deposits were found in Lokris (Pirazzoli et al, 1999;Gaki-Papanastassiou et al, 2001) and along the Reinhardt et al, 2006). In the north African coastal zone, tsunami traces were identified in the Nile delta (Goiran, 2001;Stanley and Bernasconi, 2006).…”

Alexander the Great's tombolos at Tyre and Alexandria, eastern Mediterranean

“…The subsequent creation of more powerful westerly currents could be at the origin of non-deposition of parts of the proto-tombolo. At this time, Stanley and Bernasconi (2006) have described an open marine environment inside the eastern bay. Faced with this problem, the Romans constructed artificial marinas in this area (Goddio et al, 1998;Goddio and Bernand, 2004;Bernasconi et al, 2006).…”

Magnetic detection of ship ballast deposits and anchorage sites in King Herod's Roman harbour, Caesarea Maritima, Israel

“…Ballast stone deposits are a common feature of bottom sediments in ancient harbours and anchorage sites where merchant ships jettisoned ballast prior to lading of cargo (Raveh and Kingsley, 1991;McManus, 1999;Stanley and Bernasconi, 2004;Reinhardt et al, 2006). Typically these deposits consist of a heterogeneous mixture of ballast stones admixed with locally derived sediments and varying quantities of pottery and other ship refuse.…”

“…Thick ballast stone layers have also been documented from a number of ancient harbour sites in the Mediterranean (e.g. Caesarea Maritima, Alexandria, Dor) Kingsley, 2003;Stanley and Bernasconi, 2004;Reinhardt et al, 2006) but have largely been disregarded as a potential archive of archaeological information, as there is a general perception that ballast layers are essentially ex-situ deposits, lacking proper stratigraphic and archaeological contexts (Parker, 1981;Lamb, 1986). Ballast deposits and associated pottery materials, however, can be preserved as in-situ layers under favorable environmental conditions; for example in low energy environments, such as sheltered harbour basins and in natural embayments where waves and currents are insufficient to erode or rework coarse deposits.…”