scholarly journals A Neolithic mega-tsunami event in the eastern Mediterranean: Prehistoric settlement vulnerability along the Carmel coast, Israel

PLoS ONE ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 15 (12) ◽  
pp. e0243619
Author(s):  
Gilad Shtienberg ◽  
Assaf Yasur-Landau ◽  
Richard D. Norris ◽  
Michael Lazar ◽  
Tammy M. Rittenour ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Eastern Mediterranean ◽  
Optically Stimulated Luminescence ◽  
Archaeological Sites ◽  
Early Neolithic ◽  
Level Curves ◽  
Profound Influence ◽  
Marine Sand ◽  
Run Up ◽  
Global And Local ◽  
Tsunami Event

Tsunami events in antiquity had a profound influence on coastal societies. Six thousand years of historical records and geological data show that tsunamis are a common phenomenon affecting the eastern Mediterranean coastline. However, the possible impact of older tsunamis on prehistoric societies has not been investigated. Here we report, based on optically stimulated luminescence chronology, the earliest documented Holocene tsunami event, between 9.91 to 9.29 ka (kilo-annum), from the eastern Mediterranean at Dor, Israel. Tsunami debris from the early Neolithic is composed of marine sand embedded within fresh-brackish wetland deposits. Global and local sea-level curves for the period, 9.91–9.29 ka, as well as surface elevation reconstructions, show that the tsunami had a run-up of at least ~16 m and traveled between 3.5 to 1.5 km inland from the palaeo-coastline. Submerged slump scars on the continental slope, 16 km west of Dor, point to the nearby “Dor-complex” as a likely cause. The near absence of Pre-Pottery Neolithic A-B archaeological sites (11.70–9.80 cal. ka) suggest these sites were removed by the tsunami, whereas younger, late Pre-Pottery Neolithic B-C (9.25–8.35 cal. ka) and later Pottery-Neolithic sites (8.25–7.80 cal. ka) indicate resettlement following the event. The large run-up of this event highlights the disruptive impact of tsunamis on past societies along the Levantine coast.

scholarly journals Shallow Offshore Geophysical Prospection of Archaeological Sites in Eastern Mediterranean

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (7) ◽  
pp. 1237
Author(s):  
Nikos Papadopoulos
Keyword(s):  
Eastern Mediterranean ◽  
Archaeological Sites ◽  
Cultural Resources ◽  
Marine Environments ◽  
Resistivity Tomography ◽  
Cultural Resources Management ◽  
Coastal Marine ◽  
Ground Penetrating ◽  
Magnetic Gradiometry ◽  
Geophysical Prospection

Geophysical prospecting methods have been extensively used to outline buried antiquities in terrestrial sites. Despite the frequent application of these mapping and imaging approaches for the detection of archaeological relics in deep-water marine environments (e.g., shipwrecks), the aforementioned processes have minimal contribution when it comes to understanding the dynamics of the past in coastal and shallow aquatic archaeological sites. This work explores the possibilities of multicomponent geophysical techniques in revealing antiquities that have been submerged in diverse shallow coastal marine environments in the eastern Mediterranean. A group of four sites in Greece (Agioi Theodoroi, Olous, Lambayanna) and Cyprus (Pafos) spanning from prehistory to Roman times were chosen as test sites to validate the efficiency of electrical resistivity tomography, magnetic gradiometry, and ground penetrating radar methods. The comprehensive analysis of the geophysical data completed the picture for the hidden archeological elements in all the sites. The results manifest the significance and the potential of these methods for documenting and understanding the complex archaeological sites encountered in the Mediterranean. In view of climate change and the risks related to future sea level rise and erosion of low-level coastal areas, the results of this work could be integrated in a strategic framework to develop an effective interdisciplinary research model that can be applied to similar shallow water archaeological surveys, thus substantially contributing towards cultural resources management.

scholarly journals Radiocarbon Chronology of the Shigir and Gorbunovo Archaeological Bog Sites, Middle Urals, Russia

Radiocarbon ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 54 (3-4) ◽  
pp. 783-794 ◽  
Author(s):  
Natalia E Zaretskaya ◽  
Sönke Hartz ◽  
Thomas Terberger ◽  
Svetlana N Savchenko ◽  
Mikhail G Zhilin
Keyword(s):  
Mass Spectrometry ◽  
Central And Eastern Europe ◽  
Archaeological Sites ◽  
Peat Bogs ◽  
Middle Urals ◽  
Early Neolithic ◽  
Radiocarbon Chronology ◽  
First Time ◽  
Late Mesolithic ◽  
Ams Dates

Two well-known archaeological sites, the peat bogs of Shigir and Gorbunovo (Middle Urals, Russia), have been radiocarbon dated (61 conventional and accelerator mass spectrometry [AMS] dates from various natural and artifact samples). For the first time, a detailed chronology of Early to Late Mesolithic and Early Neolithic occupation for this region has been obtained, and a paleoenvironmental history reconstructed. Based on these results, we propose that the Mesolithic settlement of the Middle Urals region started in the early Holocene, at the same time as in central and eastern Europe.

scholarly journals Mortar Dating Methodology: Assessing Recurrent Issues and Needs for Further Research

Radiocarbon ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 59 (6) ◽  
pp. 1859-1871 ◽  
Author(s):  
Roald Hayen ◽  
Mark Van Strydonck ◽  
Laurent Fontaine ◽  
Mathieu Boudin ◽  
Alf Lindroos ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sample Preparation ◽  
Optically Stimulated Luminescence ◽  
Archaeological Sites ◽  
Preparation Methods ◽  
Dating Methods ◽  
Absolute Dating ◽  
Set Up ◽  
Intercomparison Study ◽  
Sample Preparation Methods ◽  
Historic Stone

AbstractAbsolute dating of mortars is crucial when trying to pin down construction phases of archaeological sites and historic stone buildings to a certain point in time or to confirm, but possibly also challenge, existing chronologies. To evaluate various sample preparation methods for radiocarbon (14C) dating of mortars as well as to compare different dating methods, i.e. 14C and optically stimulated luminescence (OSL), a mortar dating intercomparison study (MODIS) was set up, exploring existing limits and needs for further research. Four mortar samples were selected and distributed among the participating laboratories: one of which was expected not to present any problem related to the sample preparation methodologies for anthropogenic lime extraction, whereas all others addressed specific known sample preparation issues. Data obtained from the various mortar dating approaches are evaluated relative to the historical framework of the mortar samples and any deviation observed is contextualized to the composition and specific mineralogy of the sampled material.

scholarly journals UAV SURVEYING FOR A COMPLETE MAPPING AND DOCUMENTATION OF ARCHAEOLOGICAL FINDINGS. THE EARLY NEOLITHIC SITE OF PORTONOVO

2016 ◽  
Vol XLI-B1 ◽  
pp. 1149-1155 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. S. Malinverni ◽  
C. Conati Barbaro ◽  
R. Pierdicca ◽  
C. A. Bozzi ◽  
A. N. Tassetti
Keyword(s):  
Laser Scanning ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
A Priori ◽  
Aerial Survey ◽  
Archaeological Sites ◽  
Early Neolithic ◽  
Neolithic Site ◽  
Complete Mapping ◽  
Close Range ◽  
Definition Of

The huge potential of 3D digital acquisition techniques for the documentation of archaeological sites, as well as the related findings, is almost well established. In spite of the variety of available techniques, a sole documentation pipeline cannot be defined a priori because of the diversity of archaeological settings. Stratigraphic archaeological excavations, for example, require a systematic, quick and low cost 3D single-surface documentation because the nature of stratigraphic archaeology compels providing documentary evidence of any excavation phase. Only within a destructive process each single excavation cannot be identified, documented and interpreted and this implies the necessity of a re- examination of the work on field. In this context, this paper describes the methodology, carried out during the last years, to 3D document the Early Neolithic site of Portonovo (Ancona, Italy) and, in particular, its latest step consisting in a photogrammetric aerial survey by means of UAV platform. It completes the previous research delivered in the same site by means of terrestrial laser scanning and close range techniques and sets out different options for further reflection in terms of site coverage, resolution and campaign cost. With the support of a topographic network and a unique reference system, the full documentation of the site is managed in order to detail each excavation phase; besides, the final output proves how the 3D digital methodology can be completely integrated with reasonable costs during the excavation and used to interpret the archaeological context. Further contribution of this work is the comparison between several acquisition techniques (i.e. terrestrial and aerial), which could be useful as decision support system for different archaeological scenarios. The main objectives of the comparison are: i) the evaluation of 3D mapping accuracy from different data sources, ii) the definition of a standard pipeline for different archaeological needs and iii) the provision of different level of detail according to the user needs.

scholarly journals Index of Dates from Archaeological Sites in Queensland

2000 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
pp. 1 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sean Ulm ◽  
Jill Reid
Keyword(s):  
Mass Spectrometry ◽  
Accelerator Mass Spectrometry ◽  
The State ◽  
Optically Stimulated Luminescence ◽  
Archaeological Sites ◽  
Torres Strait

<p>This volume presents an indexed compilation of chronometric determinations obtained from archaeological sites in the state of Queensland (including Torres Strait), Australia, to the end of 2000. The list includes conventional radiocarbon (14C), accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS), thermoluminescence (TL) and optically-stimulated luminescence (OSL) determinations. In total, 849 dates are listed from 258 sites. This listing is intended as a reference work only and no analysis of the dataset is undertaken in this volume.</p>

scholarly journals Assessment of island beach erosion due to sea level rise: The case of the Aegean Archipelago (Eastern Mediterranean)

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Isavela N. Monioudi ◽  
Adonis F. Velegrakis ◽  
Antonis E. Chatzipavlis ◽  
Anastasios Rigos ◽  
Theophanis Karambas ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sea Level Rise ◽  
Sea Level ◽  
Spatial Information ◽  
Eastern Mediterranean ◽  
Rapid Assessment ◽  
Beach Erosion ◽  
Coastal Protection ◽  
Present Contribution ◽  
Critical Resource ◽  
Run Up

Abstract. The present contribution constitutes the first comprehensive attempt to (a) record the spatial characteristics of the beaches of the Aegean Archipelago (Greece), a critical resource for both the local and national economy; and (b) provide a rapid assessment of the impacts of the long-term and episodic sea level rise (SLR), under different scenarios. Spatial information and other attributes (e.g. presence of coastal protection works and backshore development) of the beaches of the 58 largest islands of the Archipelago were obtained on the basis of remote-sensed images available in the web. Ranges of SLR-induced beach retreats under different morphological, sedimentological and hydrodynamic forcing and SLR scenarios were estimated, using suitable ensembles of cross-shore (1-D) morphodynamic models. These ranges, combined with empirically-derived estimations of wave run up-induced flooding, were then compared with the recorded maximum beach widths, to provide ranges of retreat/erosion and flooding at the Archipelago scale. The spatial information shows that the Aegean beaches may be particularly vulnerable to mean (MSLR) and episodic SLRs due to: (i) their narrow widths (about 59 % of the beaches have maximum widths

Wave run-up observations in microtidal, sediment-starved pocket beaches of the Eastern Mediterranean

2009 ◽  
Vol 78 ◽  
pp. S37-S47 ◽  
Author(s):  
M.I. Vousdoukas ◽  
A.F. Velegrakis ◽  
K. Dimou ◽  
V. Zervakis ◽  
D.C. Conley
Keyword(s):  
Eastern Mediterranean ◽  
Run Up

Sea Surface Radiocarbon Reservoir Age Changes in the Aegean Sea from about 11,200 BP to Present

Radiocarbon ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 57 (3) ◽  
pp. 493-505 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yorgos Facorellis ◽  
Evi Vardala-Theodorou
Keyword(s):  
Eastern Mediterranean ◽  
Aegean Sea ◽  
Sea Surface ◽  
Archaeological Sites ◽  
Calibration Data ◽  
Marine Mollusk ◽  
Suitable Material ◽  
Paired Samples ◽  
Collection Date ◽  
First Time

Archaeological excavations in two coastal sites of Greece, Ftelia on Mykonos and Cyclops Cave on Youra, have provided suitable material (charcoal/marine mollusk shell paired samples deposited simultaneously in undisturbed anthropogenic layers) to estimate regional changes of the sea surface radiocarbon reservoir effect (ΔR) in the Aegean Sea. Moreover, pre-bomb 14C ages of marine mollusk shells of known collection date, from Piraeus and Nafplion in Greece and Smyrna in Turkey, also contributed to the marine reservoir calculation during recent years. In this article, these already published results, 10 in total, are considered and calibrated again using the latest issues of the calibration curves IntCal13 and Marine13. The same calibration data were applied to 11 more paired samples from the archaeological sites of Palamari on Skyros and Franchthi Cave in the Argolic Gulf, published here for the first time, in order to investigate the fluctuation of the reservoir ages R(t) and ΔR values in the Aegean Sea from ∼11,200 BP (∼13,000 cal BP) to present. Our data show that R(t) and ΔR values are not constant through time and may vary from 1220 ± 148 to −3 ± 53 yr and −451 ± 68 to 858 ± 154 14C yr, respectively. An attempt was also made to correlate these fluctuations with eastern Mediterranean paleo-environmental proxies and other relevant paleoceanographic data found in the literature.

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