scholarly journals GEOMORPHIC EVOLUTION OF THE PALAMARI BAY (NORTHEASTERN SKYROS ISLAND) DURING LATE HOLOCENE

2018 ◽  
Vol 36 (2) ◽  
pp. 1044
Author(s):  
Κ. Παυλόπουλος ◽  
Ε. Καρύμπαλης ◽  
Π. Καρκάνας ◽  
Λ. Παρλαμά ◽  
Ι. Μάνος ◽  
...  

Palamari bay is loceted on the northeastern coast of Skyros island (Sporades islands, Aegean sea). The area is of fundamental archaeological interest because of a prehistoric archaeological site, located at the northern part of the bay. In order to investigate the geomorphic evolution of the broader area a detailed geomorphological mapping of the coastal and submarine area of the bay at a scale 1:5000 was carried out. Additionally the stratigraphy of the late Holocene sediments was studied and micropaleontological and palynological study of collected samples from the deposits of the coastal alluvial plain as well as radiocarbon dating of selected layers rich in organic material were done. The main morphological features of the coastal zone are two beachrock formations with the first one extending along the coastline reaching a depth of-1.70 m and the second one occupying the southern part of the bay lying between -1.90 and -2.90 m below sea level. Microfaunal and palynological analysis of collected samples identified two main sedimentary sequences. The uppermost sedimentary unit represents a terrestrial depositional environment dominated by aeolian wellsorted sands and fluvial sediments. The underlying sequence showed a lagoonal depositional environment, implying a protected lagoon connected to the sea, which was periodically supplied with fresh water. This lagoon existed between 3700 years BP and 700 years BP as radiocarbon dating showed. The existence of this lagoon after that period is possible.

Antiquity ◽  
1993 ◽  
Vol 67 (255) ◽  
pp. 355-358 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alan Watchman ◽  
Noelene Cole

During the late Holocene, Aboriginal rock painters in north Queensland selected and combined various natural inorganic and organic materials in paint recipes – possibly to increase the longevity of their paintings. The organic materials make direct radiocarbon dating possible.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alexandros Emmanouilidis ◽  
Konstantinos Panagiotopoulos ◽  
Katerina Kouli ◽  
Pavlos Avramidis

<p>Coastal wetlands are dynamic environments prone to climatic and anthropogenic forcing and ideal settings to study past climatic and environmental changes.  In the eastern Mediterranean region and particularly in Greece, the climate presents high spatiotemporal diversity, while human activity is a significant factor in shaping the landscape. This study presents a sediment record from Klisova lagoon, situated in central Greece, at the eastern part of Messolonghi lagoon complex. The area is recorded from antiquity to have great anthropogenic activity. The paleoenvironmental synthesis was based on standard sedimentological analysis (grain size, TOC, magnetic susceptibility), joint micropaleontological and palynological analysis, X-ray Fluorescence scanning, and radiocarbon dating. The Bayesian age-depth model is based on radiocarbon dating and yields an age of 4700 cal BP for the base of the recovered sediment sequence. For the last 4700 years, the freshwater influx, the progradation of the Evinos river delta and related geomorphological changes control the environmental conditions (e.g. depth and salinity) in the lagoon system. Prior to 4000 cal BP, a relatively shallow water depth, significant terrestrial/freshwater input and increased weathering in the lagoon area are inferred. Elemental proxies and increased dinoflagellate and foraminifera abundances, which indicate marine conditions with prominent freshwater influxes, point to the gradual deepening of the lagoon recorded at the drilling site up to 2000 cal BP. The marine and freshwater conditions equilibrium sets at 1300 cal BP, and the lagoonal system seems to reach its present state. Maxima of anthropogenic pollen indicators during the Mycenaean (~3200 cal BP), Hellenistic (~ 2200 cal BP) and Late Byzantine (~ 800 cal BP) periods suggest intervals of increased anthropogenic activities in the study area.  </p>


The Holocene ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. 095968362110417
Author(s):  
Shelekhova ТS ◽  
Lobanova NV ◽  
Lavrova NB ◽  
Rodionov GN

Bottom sediments from Lake Pervoe Starushechye, on the White Sea shore, near Korabelnaya Bay, Chupa Town, 500 m from an archaeological site, were analyzed. The aim of our studies was to determine the position of the sea shoreline, to correlate archaeological sites relative to it, to date ancient settlements, and to reconstruct the paleoclimatic conditions and habitats of ancient people. Spore and pollen, diatom, and radiocarbon (14C) analyses were done. New evidence for the time of retreat of the seashore, the isolation of Lake Pervoe Starushechye from it and the time of the possible invasion of the area by ancient people was obtained. People were shown to inhabit the area from 3970 ± 120 to 3250 ± 120 14С y.a., when the sea shoreline reached modern levels of 19–22 m. The lake was then a ~8 m deep White Sea bay, in which marine gyttja was deposited. These events are reflected in the stratigraphy of the sequence and supported by the results of diatom and spore and pollen analyses. About 3500 y.a., mean annual temperatures in North Karelia were 2°С and annual precipitation ~50 mm/year higher than modern values. Spruce and pine-spruce forests with aspen and alder patches grew on the shore. A favorable climate and exuberant vegetation attracted people. Therefore, it is at the Atlantic-Subboreal boundary that the archaeological sites located at the above altitudes could arise. The lake separated from the White Sea 3020 ± 90 14С y.a. Freshwater sapropel was deposited in the isolated lake, as indicated by the composition of diatom flora and spore and pollen spectra. The sea shoreline declined to 17–16 m. Light-coniferous pine lichen-green moss forests with light-loving oligotrophic grasses were spreading actively throughout the study area.


2021 ◽  
Vol 0 (0) ◽  
Author(s):  
Rizki Satria Rachman ◽  
Winantris ◽  
Budi Muljana

AbstractWalat Formation is equivalent to Bayah Formation. This formation is the beginning of Bogor basin deposition. In this case, age and environment of this formation have been analyzed by previous researchers, but the results of age and environment interpretations have different ranges, especially from its palynological aspect which until now Walat Formation is rarely analyzed using this aspect. This research was conducted to identify the age and depositional environment of Walat Formation in Sukabumi region by using pollen and spores to confirm different interpretations of previous studies. Measure section was carried out in sampling and chemical treatment method was carried out to see palynomorph content in the rock. Furthermore, data analysis was carried out with range of interval zones and pollen grouping based on their environment.The results show that Walat Formation has Late Eocene age based on the interval zone between first occurrence of Verrucatosporites usmensis and Meyeripollis naharkotensis, and the last occurence of Proxapertites operculatus, Proxapertites cursus, and Cicatricosisporites eocenicus. Walat Formation has fluvial depositional environment characterized by the dominance of Proxapertites operculatus and Proxapertites cursus. The results of this study confirm that the Walat Formation has an Eocene age and a fluvial depositional environment from a palinological aspect.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Ursula Alyson Cochran

<p>New Zealand is situated on the boundary between the Pacific and Australian tectonic plates. The Wellington region lies near the southern end of the Hikurangi subduction zone and within a zone of major, active strike-slip faults. Wellington's paleoseismic and historic records indicate that large surface rupture earthquakes have occurred on these faults in the past. Development of a complete record of past large earthquakes is a high priority for the region because of the risk posed by occurrence of large earthquakes in the future. The existing paleoseismic record has been derived predominantly from studies of fault trench stratigraphy, raised beach ridges and offset river terraces. The sedimentary record of lakes and coastal waterbodies is a source of information that has not been used specifically for paleoseismic purposes in the region. Therefore investigation of Wellington's sedimentary record is used in this thesis to make a contribution to the paleoseismic record. Holocene sedimentary sequences are studied from three small, low elevation, coastal waterbodies: Taupo Swamp, Okupe Lagoon and Lake Kohangapiripiri. Sequences of between 200 and 650 cm depth were collected using a hand-operated coring device. Sedimentology and diatom microfossil content were analysed and interpreted to enable reconstruction of paleoenvironment at each site. Radiocarbon dating was used to provide chronologies for the sequences that are aged between 5000 and 7500 calibrated years before present (cal. years BP). Diatom analysis is the main tool used to reconstruct paleoenvironment and detect evidence for occurrence of past large earthquakes. To aid reconstruction of sedimentary sequences used in this project, as well as coastal sequences in New Zealand in general, a coastal diatom calibration set was constructed using 50 sites around New Zealand. Modern diatom distribution and abundance, and associated environmental variables are analysed using ordination and weighted averaging techniques. Detrended correspondence analysis arranges species according to salinity preferences and divides sites clearly into waterbody types along a coastal gradient. This analysis enables reconstruction of waterbody type from fossil samples by passive placement onto ordination diagrams. Weighted averaging regression of calibration set samples results in a high correlation (r2jack=0.84) between observed and diatom inferred salinity, and enables salinity preferences and tolerances to be derived for 100 species. This confirms for the first time that species' preferences derived in the Northern Hemisphere are generally applicable to diatoms living in the coastal zone of New Zealand. Weighted averaging calibration and the modern analogue technique are used to generate quantitative estimates of paleosalinity for fossil samples. Paleoenvironmental reconstructions of Taupo Swamp, Okupe Lagoon and Lake Kohangapiripiri indicate that each waterbody has been isolated from the sea during the late Holocene. Isolation has been achieved through interplay of sediment accumulation causing growth of barrier beaches, and coseismic uplift. Ten distinct transitions between different paleoenvironments are recognised from the three sequences. These transitions involve changes in relative sea level or water table level often in association with catchment disturbance or marine influx events. All transitions occur suddenly and are laterally extensive and synchronous within each waterbody. Quantitative estimates of paleosalinity and waterbody type are used to differentiate between large and small magnitude changes in paleoenvironment. Five transitions involve large amounts of paleoenvironmental change and provide evidence for earthquakes occurring at approximately 5200, approximately 3200, and approximately 2300 cal. years BP. Five other transitions are consistent with the effects of large earthquakes occurring at approximately 6800, 2200, approximately 1000, approximately 500 cal. years BP and 1855 AD but do not provide independent evidence of the events. Environmental transitions at Lake Kohangapiripiri clarify the timing of rupture of the Wairarapa Fault by bracketing incompatible age estimates derived from two different sites on the fault. The oldest environmental transitions recognised at Taupo Swamp and Okupe Lagoon both occur at approximately 3200 cal. years BP indicating that western Wellington was uplifted at this time. Environmental transitions are recorded at all three study sites at approximately 2300 cal. years BP indicating that the entire western and central Wellington region experienced coseismic uplift at this time. Because of the distance between sites this apparent synchroneity implies that several faults in the region ruptured at a similar time. Investigation of sedimentary sequences contributes to the existing paleoseismic record by providing additional estimates of timing for past large earthquakes, enabling estimation of the areal extent of the effects of past earthquakes, and by highlighting periods of fault rupture activity in the late Holocene.</p>


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Margarida Vilas-Boas ◽  
Niall W. Paterson ◽  
Zélia Pereira ◽  
Paulo Fernandes ◽  
Simonetta Cirilli

&lt;p&gt;The Algarve Basin is a Mesozoic sedimentary basin located in southern Portugal. The basin was initiated by rifting associated with the opening of the North and Central Atlantic Ocean during the initial breakup of Pangea. Sedimentation commenced with continental red beds, which unconformably overlie folded and faulted late Carboniferous strata. The red bed succession (Silves Sandstones) consists mainly of sandstones and conglomerates at the base, overlain by variegated mudstones interbedded with siltstones and dolomites (Silves Mudstones, Siltstones and Dolomites). The sandstones were deposited in alluvial environments, and the mudstones in alluvial to shallow lacustrine environments. Upper Triassic (Carnian to Norian) macrofossils are scarce in the red bed succession, occurring predominantly in the upper beds of the succession above the Silves Sandstones, and do not accurately constrain the age of the beginning of the Algarve Basin.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;A palynological study of a new road cut outcrop of Silves Sandstones, located in central Algarve, was undertaken in order to ascertain its age. A 3 m thick bed of grey siltstones located ca. 2.5 m above the unconformity yielded age-diagnostic palynomorphs, which date the onset of sedimentation in the basin. Samples from the latter bed yielded a moderately well preserved, low diversity palynomorph assemblage, which is dominated by &lt;em&gt;Aulisporites astigmosus, Converrucosisporites&lt;/em&gt; sp. and &lt;em&gt;Tulesporites briscoensis&lt;/em&gt;. Other taxa present in the assemblage include &lt;em&gt;Alisporites&lt;/em&gt; sp., &lt;em&gt;Calamospora&lt;/em&gt; sp., &lt;em&gt;Cycadopites&lt;/em&gt; sp., &lt;em&gt;Deltoidospora&lt;/em&gt; sp., &lt;em&gt;Ovalipollis&lt;/em&gt; cf. &lt;em&gt;ovalis&lt;/em&gt;, &lt;em&gt;Triadispora&lt;/em&gt; sp., and &lt;em&gt;Vallasporites ignacii&lt;/em&gt;.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;The dominance of &lt;em&gt;A. astigmosus&lt;/em&gt; together with &lt;em&gt;V. ignacii&lt;/em&gt; is indicative of an early Carnian age based on comparison with independently dated sections described elsewhere in Europe. This new dating evidence thus constrains the beginning of sedimentation in the Algarve Basin to the earliest Late Triassic. The co-occurrence of &lt;em&gt;T. briscoensis&lt;/em&gt; and &lt;em&gt;A. astigmosus&lt;/em&gt; suggests a mixing of palynofloral elements typical of North American and central European Carnian assemblages respectively, which is consistent with the intermediate position of Portugal between those regions. The dominance of phytoclasts and the absence of marine palynomorphs confirms a continental depositional environment as also suggested by sedimentary lithofacies.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Acknowledgements&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;The authors would like to acknowledge the financial support of the Portuguese Foundation of Science and Technology (FCT) with the scholarship with the reference SFRH/BD/144125/2019 and would also like to acknowledge the financial support of the FCT to CIMA through UIDP/00350/2020.&lt;/p&gt;


2019 ◽  
Vol 92 (2) ◽  
pp. 381-387
Author(s):  
R. Lee Lyman

AbstractRemains of the North American water vole (Microtus richardsoni) have previously been recovered from late Pleistocene and Holocene deposits in southwestern Alberta, western Montana, and north-central Wyoming. All are within the historically documented modern range of the metapopulation occupying the Rocky Mountains; no ancient remains of this large microtine have previously been reported from the metapopulation occupying the Cascade Range. Four lower first molar specimens from the late Holocene Stemilt Creek Village archaeological site in central Washington here identified as water vole are from the eastern slope of the Cascade Range and are extralimital to the metapopulation found in those mountains. There is no taphonomic evidence indicating long-distance transport of the teeth, and modern trapping records suggest the local absence of water voles from the site area today is not a function of sampling error. The precise age of the Stemilt Creek Village water voles is obscure but climate change producing well-documented late Holocene advances of nearby alpine glaciers could have created habitat conditions conducive to the apparent modest shift in the range of the species represented by the remains.


2009 ◽  
Vol 180 (6) ◽  
pp. 529-544 ◽  
Author(s):  
Céline Ducassou ◽  
Christine Strullu-Derrien ◽  
Michel Ballevre ◽  
Marie-Pierre Dabard ◽  
Philippe Gerrienne ◽  
...  

Abstract The palaeogeography of the internal zones of the Variscan belt during the early stages of the convergence remains unclear. Sedimentary sequences that recorded the denudation of an early relief have generally been removed by erosion. In the Chalonnes area (southeast of the Armorican Massif), the reefal carbonates of the Chalonnes Formation (Fm) are overlain by the immature, poorly-sorted sandstones of the Sainte-Anne Fm. This formation is characterised by the occurrence of gravity flow deposits and contains immature and poorly sorted sandstones with a large amount of plant debris and lithic fragments, suggesting a depositional environment in a delta front dominated by floods. A revision of the palaeoflora content allows to assign an Emsian age to the Sainte-Anne Fm. Lithic fragments are mainly of sedimentary and volcanic origin, suggesting moderate erosion level of the source area. Palaeocurrent data indicate a southern origin for the sediments. These features collectively demonstrate that the Sainte-Anne Fm is the record of the erosion of a continental area located farther south, and experiencing incipient tectonic uplift during the Emsian. The Sainte-Anne Fm could represent therefore the earliest record in France of the very first stages of the Variscan orogeny.


Radiocarbon ◽  
2011 ◽  
Vol 53 (1) ◽  
pp. 129-135 ◽  
Author(s):  
K J Kim ◽  
W Hong ◽  
J H Park ◽  
H J Woo ◽  
G Hodgins ◽  
...  

The development of radiocarbon dating for degraded bone samples collected at Korean archaeological sites has been successful through the characterization of raw bone C/N ratios and application of an ultrafiltration method. It was found that the C/N ratios of raw bone samples are inversely proportional to the carbon content and residue amount after gelatinization. We have examined a few dozen Korean archaeological bone samples for this study. Well-preserved bone samples are found to be physically dense. The range of C/N ratios of Korean raw bone samples ranged from 3.4 to 74. We found that the C/N ratios of degraded raw bone samples can be used to determine whether 14C samples are acceptable for normal pretreatment processing and eventual dating. The results of this study support that even if the C/N ratio of a degraded raw bone sample is 11, extraction of collagen for bone dating is feasible by a carefully designed ultrafiltration process. Our preliminary 14C dating results of a depth profile of Gunang-gul Cave, an archaeological site in Danyang, Korea, indicate that this site has been either geologically or anthropologically disturbed in the past, with 14C ages ranging from 28,910 ± 200 to 48,090 ± 1050 yr BP. The C/N ratios of the collagen samples of Gunang-gul were determined to be 3.2–3.6. Our study establishes a new guide for the pretreatment of degraded bone samples such as those collected in Korea for 14C dating.


2019 ◽  
Vol 519 ◽  
pp. 144-155 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sayuri Naito ◽  
Nagayoshi Katsuta ◽  
Shin-ichi Kawakami ◽  
Yoshimitsu Koido ◽  
Hiroshi Shimono

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