Paleoenvironmental evolution of Istron (N.E Crete), during the last 6000 years: depositional environment, climate and sea level changes

Abstract

The Istron area is located in northeastern Crete, Gulf of Mirabello, on an alluvial fan of Holocene age. The archaeological importance of this area is suggested not only by its archaeological remains, but also by its significant location. Many important Minoan sites, like Gournia, Kavousi, Pseira, have been discovered near Istro. There are indications of human installations from the Neolithic to the Roman period, proving the continuous human activity in this area. The significant geological location-it represents an area with intense tectonic activity-, geomorphological regime and climatic changes , have influenced regional settlement and the overall cultural development of the area. The study of sea-land interactions during the last seven millennia in relation to the eustatic sea level oscillations and the regional neotectonic regime, as well as the geomorphologic observations and analyses on deposited sediments, aims to reveal the paleogeographic evolution of the landscape and its impact on prehistoric, classical and Roman establishments. A geomorphological mapping of the coastal area along with the drilling of five boreholes and the excavation of six trenches, have therefore been accomplished. Moreover, pollen and microfaunal (benthic foraminifera and ostracodes) analyses have been performed. Six samples were dated using AMS and Conventional radiocarbon techniques providing temporal control of the sediments. Sea level rise along with sea-land interactions to the landscape evolution and the transgression of sea in 5000BP have been verified. Additionally, several implications for the use of land and human impact civilization have been made.

Relative sea level fluctuations in aegean coastal areas from middle to late holocene

“…Skyros) [17], the coastal lagoon of Skinias-Marathon [18], the coastal swamp of Vavron [20], the coastal and underwater beachrock formations in the insular complex of Delos-Rhenia [21], [22], [23] and, finally, the coastal area of Istron in Mirabellum Gulf (N.E. Crete) [24], [25], [26]. In all selected areas of coastal swamps and lagoons, sampling was undertaken by a vibration drilling machine and sediments were examined for their lithostratigraphy and microfauna content (foraminifera-ostracods).…”

“…From Pavlopoulos et al [24], Theodorakopoulou et al [25], [26] and the data derived by radiocarbon and O.S.L dating on marine sediments from the coastal area of Istron, it has been calculated that sea level during 6620-2240 yr B.P, has been risen at about 4.06m, showing an annual rising rate of 0.93mm/ yr (Fig. 5).…”

Socializing geoarchaeology: Insights from Bourdieu's theory of practice applied to Neolithic and Bronze Age Crete

“…At Kalo Chorio, human-environment interactions are barely mentioned by the authors (Pavlopoulos et al, 2007). The main objective of the study was to reconstruct the last 6000 years of environmental history.…”

“…Only one core, Carottage 6, has been radiocarbon dated and submitted to further laboratory analyses. At Kalo Chorio, sedimentary sequences from two cores and six excavated trenches have been described (Pavlopoulos et al, 2007). The depositional units identified by the authors of these studies are presented in the next section.…”

Μultiproxy Paleoenvironmental Reconstruction: The Piraeus Coastal Plain Case Study

“…Changes in benthic faunal abundance, species composition provide evidence of fluctuation in several environmental factors and can therefore be used as an efficient method of determining the ecosystems conditions (e.g., Frontalini and Coccioni, 2008;Koukousioura et al, 2011Koukousioura et al, , 2012. In addition, changes in fossil benthic foraminifera, recorded by the study of coastal zone deposits, are a successful palaeontological tool for recording past sea-level changes and reconstructing detailed paleoclimatic and palaeoenvironmental conditions (e.g., Scott and Medioli, 1980;Carboni et al, 2010;Pavlopoulos et al, 2007Pavlopoulos et al, , 2010Triantaphyllou et al, 2010;Koukousioura et al, 2012).…”