Ancient slipways are spread throughout the Aegean coastline, constitute an important part of Gree... more Ancient slipways are spread throughout the Aegean coastline, constitute an important part of Greek naval history and maritime tradition, and provide valuable evidence of the relative sea level (rsl) change from the period of their construction and use since their function required them to be situated at the water's edge. Geoarchaeological surveys of rsl changes in several coastal sites either revealed unknown slipways or offered some fresh insights into the functional features of sites previously published. The slipways here presented, albeit covering a wide chronological range from the Classical period to Modern times, follow similar construction and functional principles. The contemporary measured depths of the seaward end of the rock-cut sloping floors are interpolated into the curves of the rsl rise for the Aegean and allow us to conclude that slipways are good sea level indicators and suggest their functional height with an uncertainty not exceeding the tidal range.
ABSTRACT
FLOODING SCENARIOS FOR 2050 AND 2100 FOR PAROIKIA BAY, PAROS ISLAND (CYCLADES): A PRELIM... more ABSTRACT FLOODING SCENARIOS FOR 2050 AND 2100 FOR PAROIKIA BAY, PAROS ISLAND (CYCLADES): A PRELIMINARY REPORT The island of Paros is undergoing to a continuous submergence caused by the combination of land subsidence and sea level rise that are continuously shaping its coastline. From low elevation aerial photogrammetric surveys and climatic data from the IPCC, we attempted a sea level rise scenario for the bay of Paroikia for AD 2050 and 2100. Thanks to the support of the Municipality of Paros, ultra-high resolution orthophotos have been collected through a UAV system, from which we extracted a detailed Digital Terrain Model for two nearby areas in the bay of Paroikia. Using the IPCC-AR5 global sea level projections adjusted for the Mediterranean region for the RCP2.6 and RCP8.5 climate change scenarios, in this preliminary report we present the expected sea level rise and the impact of marine flooding on the bay of Paroikia for the next decades. To this regard, land planners and decision makers should take into account scenarios similar to that reported in this study for cognizant coastal management.
ABSTRACT
THE GEOSWIM COASTAL SURVEY OF PAROS ISLAND, CYCLADES (GREECE)
Since 2012 the Geoswim pro... more ABSTRACT THE GEOSWIM COASTAL SURVEY OF PAROS ISLAND, CYCLADES (GREECE) Since 2012 the Geoswim programme has been investigating coastal landforms along the Mediterranean rocky shores and their lateral variations, through snorkelling and field surveys. The focus of Geoswim investigation is collecting physical/chemical and ecological data relevant to the evaluation of past to future sea level changes. In spring 2017 we explored Paros (Cydadic islands, Greece), which is characterized by a prevalently rocky coastline. We surveyed a total amount of 29.9 km of coastline in 8 working days, from a minimum of 1.8 km to a maximum of 7.9 km per day. During the surveys we collected a total amount of xxx time-lapse images at the sea level, and temperature and electrical conductivity measurements at 5cm and 30 cm below the water surface. Moreover, thousands of supporting images from both land and sea were collected to document point observations along the survey track.
ABSTRACT
ARCHAEOLOGICAL INDICATORS OF THE RELATIVE SEA LEVEL CHANGE ALONG THE COAST OF PAROS (CYC... more ABSTRACT ARCHAEOLOGICAL INDICATORS OF THE RELATIVE SEA LEVEL CHANGE ALONG THE COAST OF PAROS (CYCLADES, GREECE) A large number of ancient remains, including rubble mound breakwaters, lighthouses, pro-tective rockfills and cairn-like landmarks, sea walls and building foundations, rock-cut trenches, threshing floors, quarryscapes, tombs and other coastal buildings such as workshops, farmhouses or warehouses dated to from the Late Neolithic to Modern Times, allowed us to determine the age of six distinct sea level stands that were deduced from robust geomorphological indicators recorded all along the coast of Paros Island. During the Final Neolithic, the northern insular cluster of the Paros-Antiparos Strait was char-acterized by the Saliogos culture. When the sea level was at -4.90 ± 0.10 m lower than at present, Saliagos islet was the hilly ridge of a small cape at the northern end of a land area, which occupied the northern part of the Paros-Antiparos Strait joining together the two islands. This extended land enabled the early habitants to settle in the western side of the small cape and develop an impor¬tant culture with various activities. A rockfill embankment was placed all along the southern edge of the then land, starting from the coast of Antiparos and ended in Paros. It was probably a coastal defensive work of great importance for that period. During the Geometric period, the sea level rose by 1.40 m and shifted to -3.50 ± 0.20 m lower than at present. On the NW coast of Naousa Gulf, the inhabitants of the Geometric settlement located on the hill of the small cape constructed a rubble mound breakwater to further protect the sheltered bay of Agios loannis Detis. At the same time, in the NE side of Naousa Gulf, the well- fortified settlement on Oikonomou Island could be approached from the sea through the shallow bay of Zoodochos Pigi, shaped between the NE coast of Oikonomou Island and the opposite coast of Paros Island. Two large piles of stones founded on the then rocky outcrop of Oikonomou Island, now a reef, were probably lighthouses signaling the coast and enabling ships to approach the bay, while a road paved with large slabs seems to have provided communication between the two op¬posite shores. The coastal vine cultivation with the method of planting in elongate rock-cut parallel trenches or parallel rows of rectangular cuttings seems to have been a systematic way of viticulture in Paros and the adjacent islands in antiquity. This method probably started from the Classical period and continued until the Hellenistic, according to parallels from archaeological sites in Northern Greece, Attica and NW Peloponnese. Based on the observed difference in height between the contempo¬rary coastal vine cultivation in Paros and the present mean sea level, the relationship between the ancient vine cultivation and the then shoreline points to a sea level at -3.50 ± 0.20 m lower than at present. During the Roman period, when the sea level was at -2.40 ± 0.20 m lower than at present, the large building complex found on the SE coast of Paroikia Gulf in the workshops area ('Magazakia'), was connecting to the town by a road starting from the Ekatontapyliani area. The road passing through the Roman cemetery ended in the shore in front of the building and behind two cairn-like landmarks that were probably constructed to signal the then shoreline. During the same period and with this sea level, a rubble mound breakwater was constructed on Krotiri coast, on the NW side of Paroikia Gulf. A aeolianite quarryscape located at the southernmost tip of Tigani Islet, in the middle of the Tigani-Panteronisi Strait, was also in use at that time. During the Venetian period, when the sea level had shifted to -1.35 ± 0.20 m lower that at present, a circular tower with firing apertures ('Castelli') was added for defensive purposes to the continuation of the seawall at the entrance of the small harbour of Naousa. The Casteli was founded on the shaped surface of a rocky outcrop, about 2 m above the then sea level. At that time, at the coastal plain of Laggeri bay on the NE coast of Naousa Gulf, at least five threshing floors that were then located near the coast and now under the sea, seems that have served a significant cereal production. The subsequent sea level rise to -0.80 ± 0.10 m lower than at present inundated the closest threshing floor to the shore and caused coastal shoreline erosion. It was then that all along the seafront of the coastal farmhouse a protective rockfill was placed, which was submerged in turn when the sea level rose to -0,45 ± 0,10 m lower than at present and then to its current stand. The palaeogeographic reconstruction of the Paros-Antiparos Strait and Paroikia Bay, vividly illustrates the change in the coastal geography along with the rising sea levels and provides a better understanding of the interplay between coastal human activity and shoreline from the Final Neolithic to date.
ABSTRACT
MARINE TRANSGRESSION DURING THE LATE HOLOCENE ALONG THE COAST OF PAROS ISLAND (CYCLADES,... more ABSTRACT MARINE TRANSGRESSION DURING THE LATE HOLOCENE ALONG THE COAST OF PAROS ISLAND (CYCLADES, GREECE) Geomorphological and archaeological indicators of former sea levels along the coast of Paros enabled us to determine and date six distinct sea level stands and the relative sea level (rsl) changes between them, as well as plot the rsl curve for the last 6,300 years. The Late Holocene history of the rsl change in Paros began with the sea level at 4.90 ± 0.10 m below mean sea level (bmsl) dated to the Late Neolithic period (4300 BC-3700 BC). The next sea level at 3.50 ± 0.20 m bmsl is dated to the Geometric and Archaic periods of the Cyclades (1050 BC-490 BC) and most probably lasted during the Hellenistic period (323-146 BC). The sea level at 2.40 ± 0.25 m bmsl is dated to the Roman period (146-400 AD) and the next sea level at 1.35 ± 0.20 m bmsl to the Venetian period of the Cyclades (1207-1537). The sea level at 0.80 ± 0.10 m bmsl is dated to after the Venetian period, during the Ottoman rule of the island (1537-1821). The youngest sea level stand at 0.45 ± 0.10 m bmsl is attributed to the recent change in the sea level after the late 19th century onward. The separation between glacio-hydro-isostatic signals and the observed rsl change on Paros Island, in an area of seismic quiescence, demonstrates a significant tectonic component in the rsl changes. Moreover, the sea level stands deduced from Paros in comparison with those from the northern Cyclades indicate a uniform tectonic behaviour of the entire northern and central section of the Cyclades plateau.
The Evolution of a Harbour from the Minoan Palatial Period to Roman Times Paléogéographie de Lasa... more The Evolution of a Harbour from the Minoan Palatial Period to Roman Times Paléogéographie de Lasaia l'antique (Crète du sud-est, Grèce). L'évolution d'un port de la période palatiale minoenne à l'époque romaine
ABSTRACT The ancient fish tanks and fish traps of Crete are relics of the Roman domination of the... more ABSTRACT The ancient fish tanks and fish traps of Crete are relics of the Roman domination of the island; they were usually constructed near the major urban centers of that period. The direct relationship of their various functional characteristics with past sea levels and the relatively accurate determination of their construction dates establish them as sensitive indicators of sea level change through space and time.The fish tanks presented in detail in this study, namely those of Matala, Chersonissos, Mochlos and Sitia and the fish trap in the gulf of Zakros, have all been reported, recorded and/or interpreted in regard to their operation by previous researchers. In the absence of a comprehensive interdisciplinary approach to the issue, uneven methodologies, inaccurate data and wrong measurements have led to erroneous conclusions about sea level during their operation and about the size and direction of vertical tectonic movements in eastern Crete during the Upper Holocene.The present study is based on a new underwater survey, in the course of which the architectural and functional features of the ancient constructions were reexamined precisely; their depth from modern sea level was measured and their relationship with coastal landforms, indicative of a past sea levels, was investigated.A review of their manner of operation and their modern submerged position allowed the definition of a Roman mean sea level 1.24 m ± 0.09 m below the present one. The submersion of the central and eastern parts of Crete – included in the same tectonic block with a total length of at least 150 km – at an average tectonic rate of 0.65 mm/year during the last 1900 ± 100 years occurred, as is shown by historical evidence, during a paroxysmal tectonic event, probably related to the strong earthquake of 1604.
ABSTRACT Palaeogeographical reconstruction of the seafront of the ancient city of Delos is based ... more ABSTRACT Palaeogeographical reconstruction of the seafront of the ancient city of Delos is based on the recording and study of all available indicators of sea level change. Contemporary submerged beachrock formations and presently submerged areas of ancient human activity, including ancient coastal constructions, indicate the phases, vertical direction, extent and time frame of the changes. The sea level along the coasts of Delos has risen by a total of 2.15 m since the end of the Hellenistic period. This change occurred during two successive distinct phases of submersion, initially by 1.35 m and then by another 0.80 m. The sea’s transgression into the ancient coastal zone by a width of at least 30 m radically altered parts of its geomorphology and resulted in the submersion of the ancient sea defences.
Quarterly Journal of Engineering Geology and Hydrogeology, 1994
ABSTRACT The gypsum deposits to the southwest of the city of Heraklion, northern Crete, have been... more ABSTRACT The gypsum deposits to the southwest of the city of Heraklion, northern Crete, have been widely used as a construction material from early times either as structural or ornamental stone or foundation rock. In the study area, they were exploited and used extensively for the construction of the Knossos Palace. Although gypsum is considered as a basically weak and soluble material, it has withstood the test of time and the occasional failure problems have been observed only recently after the excavations and especially after the completion of the early restoration works. The paper attempts to highlight the geotechnical properties of gypsum and relate them to the various gypsum formation mechanisms and environments.
ABSTRACT The extensive ancient harbor installations — today submerged — on the seafront of Kolona... more ABSTRACT The extensive ancient harbor installations — today submerged — on the seafront of Kolona in Aegina are associated with the great trading and maritime development of the island from the Middle Bronze Age to the Middle Classical period. Based on geomorphological and archeological indications, three distinct relative sea levels can be defined at depths of 3.17 ± 0.05 m, 0.97 ± 0.05 m and 0.52 ± 0.05 m. The dating of the sea level changes based on archeological evidence and historical sources shows that the initial sea level change in Aegina occurred certainly after AD 170 and most likely after AD 250. The intermediate change is dated between AD 1586 and AD 1839, and the most recent change occurred between 1839 and 1999. A transgression followed a long period of sea level stability that lasted at least 2200 years, from the Middle Bronze Age (ca. 3900 yr BP) to the Late Roman period (ca. 1700 yr BP). According to the paleogeographical reconstruction of the coast, the ancient harbor installations stretch along 1600 m of coastline. The north harbor is bounded by the north breakwater, the riprap on the once wide sandy coast, the detached west breakwater, and the uplift morphology of the west end of Kolona Hill. On the south coast, the harbor installations comprise the fortified “closed harbor” with the shipsheds, the commercial harbor, which is entirely destroyed by the modern port, the anchorage area that is bounded by the west breakwater and built of cone-shaped piles of stones, the tops of which once projected above the sea level, and the south curved breakwater at its southernmost boundary.
ABSTRACT Due to the direct relationship between their function and ancient sea levels, Roman fish... more ABSTRACT Due to the direct relationship between their function and ancient sea levels, Roman fish tanks and fish traps are excellent indicators for sea level changes through time. For this study, eleven submerged systems of fish tanks were investigated along the rocky southern coast of the gulf of Matala, Crete. Seven of them are still in a good state of preservation and thus underwent detailed survey and documentation. The measurements of their recent submersion, the determination of the way they operated, as well as their correlation with coastal landforms indicative of an older sea level, permit the identification of a mean Roman sea level at the SW coast of central Crete 1.25 m below the present one. According to historical evidence, the submersion of the SW coasts of the central part of Crete must have been occurred between 1415 and 1865 during a paroxysmal tectonic event and is probably related with the strong earthquake of 1604.
ABSTRACT The ancient fish tanks and fish traps of Crete are relics of the Roman domination of the... more ABSTRACT The ancient fish tanks and fish traps of Crete are relics of the Roman domination of the island; they were usually constructed near the major urban centers of that period. The direct relationship of their various functional characteristics with past sea levels and the relatively accurate determination of their construction dates establish them as sensitive indicators of sea level change through space and time.The fish tanks presented in detail in this study, namely those of Matala, Chersonissos, Mochlos and Sitia and the fish trap in the gulf of Zakros, have all been reported, recorded and/or interpreted in regard to their operation by previous researchers. In the absence of a comprehensive interdisciplinary approach to the issue, uneven methodologies, inaccurate data and wrong measurements have led to erroneous conclusions about sea level during their operation and about the size and direction of vertical tectonic movements in eastern Crete during the Upper Holocene.The present study is based on a new underwater survey, in the course of which the architectural and functional features of the ancient constructions were reexamined precisely; their depth from modern sea level was measured and their relationship with coastal landforms, indicative of a past sea levels, was investigated.A review of their manner of operation and their modern submerged position allowed the definition of a Roman mean sea level 1.24 m ± 0.09 m below the present one. The submersion of the central and eastern parts of Crete – included in the same tectonic block with a total length of at least 150 km – at an average tectonic rate of 0.65 mm/year during the last 1900 ± 100 years occurred, as is shown by historical evidence, during a paroxysmal tectonic event, probably related to the strong earthquake of 1604.
T nHIS ARTICLE is a preliminary report of the regional archaeological survey project focused on t... more T nHIS ARTICLE is a preliminary report of the regional archaeological survey project focused on the Western Mesara Plain (the modern eparchies of Pyrgio-tissa and Kainourgio) in southern Crete (Fig. 1; P1. 44) during 1984, 1986, and 1987.1 A Greek-American synergasia, the ...
The paper presents the evolution of the geographic environment imposed by sea-level changes in se... more The paper presents the evolution of the geographic environment imposed by sea-level changes in selected sites of the Aegean Sea region during the Upper Holocene. The changes are due, mainly, to paroxysmic phases of the actual neotectonic evolution and to differential-in time and space--block movements, and emerged or submerged coasts. The reconstitution of these coasts is presented and, in some cases, natural harbor morphology is revealed. The use and evolution of these sites is discussed. Other sites concern coastal or inland ancient settlements or constructions affected by submersion by the sea, by the rise of the groundwater table, or by uplift movements. A general discussion on engineering measures to be applied for protection of the antiquities affected by these geographic changes closes the presentation.
ABSTRACT The ancient fish tanks and fish traps of Crete are relics of the Roman domination of the... more ABSTRACT The ancient fish tanks and fish traps of Crete are relics of the Roman domination of the island; they were usually constructed near the major urban centers of that period. The direct relationship of their various functional characteristics with past sea levels and the relatively accurate determination of their construction dates establish them as sensitive indicators of sea level change through space and time.The fish tanks presented in detail in this study, namely those of Matala, Chersonissos, Mochlos and Sitia and the fish trap in the gulf of Zakros, have all been reported, recorded and/or interpreted in regard to their operation by previous researchers. In the absence of a comprehensive interdisciplinary approach to the issue, uneven methodologies, inaccurate data and wrong measurements have led to erroneous conclusions about sea level during their operation and about the size and direction of vertical tectonic movements in eastern Crete during the Upper Holocene.The present study is based on a new underwater survey, in the course of which the architectural and functional features of the ancient constructions were reexamined precisely; their depth from modern sea level was measured and their relationship with coastal landforms, indicative of a past sea levels, was investigated.A review of their manner of operation and their modern submerged position allowed the definition of a Roman mean sea level 1.24 m ± 0.09 m below the present one. The submersion of the central and eastern parts of Crete – included in the same tectonic block with a total length of at least 150 km – at an average tectonic rate of 0.65 mm/year during the last 1900 ± 100 years occurred, as is shown by historical evidence, during a paroxysmal tectonic event, probably related to the strong earthquake of 1604.
ABSTRACT The ancient fish tanks and fish traps of Crete are relics of the Roman domination of the... more ABSTRACT The ancient fish tanks and fish traps of Crete are relics of the Roman domination of the island; they were usually constructed near the major urban centers of that period. The direct relationship of their various functional characteristics with past sea levels and the relatively accurate determination of their construction dates establish them as sensitive indicators of sea level change through space and time.The fish tanks presented in detail in this study, namely those of Matala, Chersonissos, Mochlos and Sitia and the fish trap in the gulf of Zakros, have all been reported, recorded and/or interpreted in regard to their operation by previous researchers. In the absence of a comprehensive interdisciplinary approach to the issue, uneven methodologies, inaccurate data and wrong measurements have led to erroneous conclusions about sea level during their operation and about the size and direction of vertical tectonic movements in eastern Crete during the Upper Holocene.The present study is based on a new underwater survey, in the course of which the architectural and functional features of the ancient constructions were reexamined precisely; their depth from modern sea level was measured and their relationship with coastal landforms, indicative of a past sea levels, was investigated.A review of their manner of operation and their modern submerged position allowed the definition of a Roman mean sea level 1.24 m ± 0.09 m below the present one. The submersion of the central and eastern parts of Crete – included in the same tectonic block with a total length of at least 150 km – at an average tectonic rate of 0.65 mm/year during the last 1900 ± 100 years occurred, as is shown by historical evidence, during a paroxysmal tectonic event, probably related to the strong earthquake of 1604.
Ancient slipways are spread throughout the Aegean coastline, constitute an important part of Gree... more Ancient slipways are spread throughout the Aegean coastline, constitute an important part of Greek naval history and maritime tradition, and provide valuable evidence of the relative sea level (rsl) change from the period of their construction and use since their function required them to be situated at the water's edge. Geoarchaeological surveys of rsl changes in several coastal sites either revealed unknown slipways or offered some fresh insights into the functional features of sites previously published. The slipways here presented, albeit covering a wide chronological range from the Classical period to Modern times, follow similar construction and functional principles. The contemporary measured depths of the seaward end of the rock-cut sloping floors are interpolated into the curves of the rsl rise for the Aegean and allow us to conclude that slipways are good sea level indicators and suggest their functional height with an uncertainty not exceeding the tidal range.
ABSTRACT
FLOODING SCENARIOS FOR 2050 AND 2100 FOR PAROIKIA BAY, PAROS ISLAND (CYCLADES): A PRELIM... more ABSTRACT FLOODING SCENARIOS FOR 2050 AND 2100 FOR PAROIKIA BAY, PAROS ISLAND (CYCLADES): A PRELIMINARY REPORT The island of Paros is undergoing to a continuous submergence caused by the combination of land subsidence and sea level rise that are continuously shaping its coastline. From low elevation aerial photogrammetric surveys and climatic data from the IPCC, we attempted a sea level rise scenario for the bay of Paroikia for AD 2050 and 2100. Thanks to the support of the Municipality of Paros, ultra-high resolution orthophotos have been collected through a UAV system, from which we extracted a detailed Digital Terrain Model for two nearby areas in the bay of Paroikia. Using the IPCC-AR5 global sea level projections adjusted for the Mediterranean region for the RCP2.6 and RCP8.5 climate change scenarios, in this preliminary report we present the expected sea level rise and the impact of marine flooding on the bay of Paroikia for the next decades. To this regard, land planners and decision makers should take into account scenarios similar to that reported in this study for cognizant coastal management.
ABSTRACT
THE GEOSWIM COASTAL SURVEY OF PAROS ISLAND, CYCLADES (GREECE)
Since 2012 the Geoswim pro... more ABSTRACT THE GEOSWIM COASTAL SURVEY OF PAROS ISLAND, CYCLADES (GREECE) Since 2012 the Geoswim programme has been investigating coastal landforms along the Mediterranean rocky shores and their lateral variations, through snorkelling and field surveys. The focus of Geoswim investigation is collecting physical/chemical and ecological data relevant to the evaluation of past to future sea level changes. In spring 2017 we explored Paros (Cydadic islands, Greece), which is characterized by a prevalently rocky coastline. We surveyed a total amount of 29.9 km of coastline in 8 working days, from a minimum of 1.8 km to a maximum of 7.9 km per day. During the surveys we collected a total amount of xxx time-lapse images at the sea level, and temperature and electrical conductivity measurements at 5cm and 30 cm below the water surface. Moreover, thousands of supporting images from both land and sea were collected to document point observations along the survey track.
ABSTRACT
ARCHAEOLOGICAL INDICATORS OF THE RELATIVE SEA LEVEL CHANGE ALONG THE COAST OF PAROS (CYC... more ABSTRACT ARCHAEOLOGICAL INDICATORS OF THE RELATIVE SEA LEVEL CHANGE ALONG THE COAST OF PAROS (CYCLADES, GREECE) A large number of ancient remains, including rubble mound breakwaters, lighthouses, pro-tective rockfills and cairn-like landmarks, sea walls and building foundations, rock-cut trenches, threshing floors, quarryscapes, tombs and other coastal buildings such as workshops, farmhouses or warehouses dated to from the Late Neolithic to Modern Times, allowed us to determine the age of six distinct sea level stands that were deduced from robust geomorphological indicators recorded all along the coast of Paros Island. During the Final Neolithic, the northern insular cluster of the Paros-Antiparos Strait was char-acterized by the Saliogos culture. When the sea level was at -4.90 ± 0.10 m lower than at present, Saliagos islet was the hilly ridge of a small cape at the northern end of a land area, which occupied the northern part of the Paros-Antiparos Strait joining together the two islands. This extended land enabled the early habitants to settle in the western side of the small cape and develop an impor¬tant culture with various activities. A rockfill embankment was placed all along the southern edge of the then land, starting from the coast of Antiparos and ended in Paros. It was probably a coastal defensive work of great importance for that period. During the Geometric period, the sea level rose by 1.40 m and shifted to -3.50 ± 0.20 m lower than at present. On the NW coast of Naousa Gulf, the inhabitants of the Geometric settlement located on the hill of the small cape constructed a rubble mound breakwater to further protect the sheltered bay of Agios loannis Detis. At the same time, in the NE side of Naousa Gulf, the well- fortified settlement on Oikonomou Island could be approached from the sea through the shallow bay of Zoodochos Pigi, shaped between the NE coast of Oikonomou Island and the opposite coast of Paros Island. Two large piles of stones founded on the then rocky outcrop of Oikonomou Island, now a reef, were probably lighthouses signaling the coast and enabling ships to approach the bay, while a road paved with large slabs seems to have provided communication between the two op¬posite shores. The coastal vine cultivation with the method of planting in elongate rock-cut parallel trenches or parallel rows of rectangular cuttings seems to have been a systematic way of viticulture in Paros and the adjacent islands in antiquity. This method probably started from the Classical period and continued until the Hellenistic, according to parallels from archaeological sites in Northern Greece, Attica and NW Peloponnese. Based on the observed difference in height between the contempo¬rary coastal vine cultivation in Paros and the present mean sea level, the relationship between the ancient vine cultivation and the then shoreline points to a sea level at -3.50 ± 0.20 m lower than at present. During the Roman period, when the sea level was at -2.40 ± 0.20 m lower than at present, the large building complex found on the SE coast of Paroikia Gulf in the workshops area ('Magazakia'), was connecting to the town by a road starting from the Ekatontapyliani area. The road passing through the Roman cemetery ended in the shore in front of the building and behind two cairn-like landmarks that were probably constructed to signal the then shoreline. During the same period and with this sea level, a rubble mound breakwater was constructed on Krotiri coast, on the NW side of Paroikia Gulf. A aeolianite quarryscape located at the southernmost tip of Tigani Islet, in the middle of the Tigani-Panteronisi Strait, was also in use at that time. During the Venetian period, when the sea level had shifted to -1.35 ± 0.20 m lower that at present, a circular tower with firing apertures ('Castelli') was added for defensive purposes to the continuation of the seawall at the entrance of the small harbour of Naousa. The Casteli was founded on the shaped surface of a rocky outcrop, about 2 m above the then sea level. At that time, at the coastal plain of Laggeri bay on the NE coast of Naousa Gulf, at least five threshing floors that were then located near the coast and now under the sea, seems that have served a significant cereal production. The subsequent sea level rise to -0.80 ± 0.10 m lower than at present inundated the closest threshing floor to the shore and caused coastal shoreline erosion. It was then that all along the seafront of the coastal farmhouse a protective rockfill was placed, which was submerged in turn when the sea level rose to -0,45 ± 0,10 m lower than at present and then to its current stand. The palaeogeographic reconstruction of the Paros-Antiparos Strait and Paroikia Bay, vividly illustrates the change in the coastal geography along with the rising sea levels and provides a better understanding of the interplay between coastal human activity and shoreline from the Final Neolithic to date.
ABSTRACT
MARINE TRANSGRESSION DURING THE LATE HOLOCENE ALONG THE COAST OF PAROS ISLAND (CYCLADES,... more ABSTRACT MARINE TRANSGRESSION DURING THE LATE HOLOCENE ALONG THE COAST OF PAROS ISLAND (CYCLADES, GREECE) Geomorphological and archaeological indicators of former sea levels along the coast of Paros enabled us to determine and date six distinct sea level stands and the relative sea level (rsl) changes between them, as well as plot the rsl curve for the last 6,300 years. The Late Holocene history of the rsl change in Paros began with the sea level at 4.90 ± 0.10 m below mean sea level (bmsl) dated to the Late Neolithic period (4300 BC-3700 BC). The next sea level at 3.50 ± 0.20 m bmsl is dated to the Geometric and Archaic periods of the Cyclades (1050 BC-490 BC) and most probably lasted during the Hellenistic period (323-146 BC). The sea level at 2.40 ± 0.25 m bmsl is dated to the Roman period (146-400 AD) and the next sea level at 1.35 ± 0.20 m bmsl to the Venetian period of the Cyclades (1207-1537). The sea level at 0.80 ± 0.10 m bmsl is dated to after the Venetian period, during the Ottoman rule of the island (1537-1821). The youngest sea level stand at 0.45 ± 0.10 m bmsl is attributed to the recent change in the sea level after the late 19th century onward. The separation between glacio-hydro-isostatic signals and the observed rsl change on Paros Island, in an area of seismic quiescence, demonstrates a significant tectonic component in the rsl changes. Moreover, the sea level stands deduced from Paros in comparison with those from the northern Cyclades indicate a uniform tectonic behaviour of the entire northern and central section of the Cyclades plateau.
The Evolution of a Harbour from the Minoan Palatial Period to Roman Times Paléogéographie de Lasa... more The Evolution of a Harbour from the Minoan Palatial Period to Roman Times Paléogéographie de Lasaia l'antique (Crète du sud-est, Grèce). L'évolution d'un port de la période palatiale minoenne à l'époque romaine
ABSTRACT The ancient fish tanks and fish traps of Crete are relics of the Roman domination of the... more ABSTRACT The ancient fish tanks and fish traps of Crete are relics of the Roman domination of the island; they were usually constructed near the major urban centers of that period. The direct relationship of their various functional characteristics with past sea levels and the relatively accurate determination of their construction dates establish them as sensitive indicators of sea level change through space and time.The fish tanks presented in detail in this study, namely those of Matala, Chersonissos, Mochlos and Sitia and the fish trap in the gulf of Zakros, have all been reported, recorded and/or interpreted in regard to their operation by previous researchers. In the absence of a comprehensive interdisciplinary approach to the issue, uneven methodologies, inaccurate data and wrong measurements have led to erroneous conclusions about sea level during their operation and about the size and direction of vertical tectonic movements in eastern Crete during the Upper Holocene.The present study is based on a new underwater survey, in the course of which the architectural and functional features of the ancient constructions were reexamined precisely; their depth from modern sea level was measured and their relationship with coastal landforms, indicative of a past sea levels, was investigated.A review of their manner of operation and their modern submerged position allowed the definition of a Roman mean sea level 1.24 m ± 0.09 m below the present one. The submersion of the central and eastern parts of Crete – included in the same tectonic block with a total length of at least 150 km – at an average tectonic rate of 0.65 mm/year during the last 1900 ± 100 years occurred, as is shown by historical evidence, during a paroxysmal tectonic event, probably related to the strong earthquake of 1604.
ABSTRACT Palaeogeographical reconstruction of the seafront of the ancient city of Delos is based ... more ABSTRACT Palaeogeographical reconstruction of the seafront of the ancient city of Delos is based on the recording and study of all available indicators of sea level change. Contemporary submerged beachrock formations and presently submerged areas of ancient human activity, including ancient coastal constructions, indicate the phases, vertical direction, extent and time frame of the changes. The sea level along the coasts of Delos has risen by a total of 2.15 m since the end of the Hellenistic period. This change occurred during two successive distinct phases of submersion, initially by 1.35 m and then by another 0.80 m. The sea’s transgression into the ancient coastal zone by a width of at least 30 m radically altered parts of its geomorphology and resulted in the submersion of the ancient sea defences.
Quarterly Journal of Engineering Geology and Hydrogeology, 1994
ABSTRACT The gypsum deposits to the southwest of the city of Heraklion, northern Crete, have been... more ABSTRACT The gypsum deposits to the southwest of the city of Heraklion, northern Crete, have been widely used as a construction material from early times either as structural or ornamental stone or foundation rock. In the study area, they were exploited and used extensively for the construction of the Knossos Palace. Although gypsum is considered as a basically weak and soluble material, it has withstood the test of time and the occasional failure problems have been observed only recently after the excavations and especially after the completion of the early restoration works. The paper attempts to highlight the geotechnical properties of gypsum and relate them to the various gypsum formation mechanisms and environments.
ABSTRACT The extensive ancient harbor installations — today submerged — on the seafront of Kolona... more ABSTRACT The extensive ancient harbor installations — today submerged — on the seafront of Kolona in Aegina are associated with the great trading and maritime development of the island from the Middle Bronze Age to the Middle Classical period. Based on geomorphological and archeological indications, three distinct relative sea levels can be defined at depths of 3.17 ± 0.05 m, 0.97 ± 0.05 m and 0.52 ± 0.05 m. The dating of the sea level changes based on archeological evidence and historical sources shows that the initial sea level change in Aegina occurred certainly after AD 170 and most likely after AD 250. The intermediate change is dated between AD 1586 and AD 1839, and the most recent change occurred between 1839 and 1999. A transgression followed a long period of sea level stability that lasted at least 2200 years, from the Middle Bronze Age (ca. 3900 yr BP) to the Late Roman period (ca. 1700 yr BP). According to the paleogeographical reconstruction of the coast, the ancient harbor installations stretch along 1600 m of coastline. The north harbor is bounded by the north breakwater, the riprap on the once wide sandy coast, the detached west breakwater, and the uplift morphology of the west end of Kolona Hill. On the south coast, the harbor installations comprise the fortified “closed harbor” with the shipsheds, the commercial harbor, which is entirely destroyed by the modern port, the anchorage area that is bounded by the west breakwater and built of cone-shaped piles of stones, the tops of which once projected above the sea level, and the south curved breakwater at its southernmost boundary.
ABSTRACT Due to the direct relationship between their function and ancient sea levels, Roman fish... more ABSTRACT Due to the direct relationship between their function and ancient sea levels, Roman fish tanks and fish traps are excellent indicators for sea level changes through time. For this study, eleven submerged systems of fish tanks were investigated along the rocky southern coast of the gulf of Matala, Crete. Seven of them are still in a good state of preservation and thus underwent detailed survey and documentation. The measurements of their recent submersion, the determination of the way they operated, as well as their correlation with coastal landforms indicative of an older sea level, permit the identification of a mean Roman sea level at the SW coast of central Crete 1.25 m below the present one. According to historical evidence, the submersion of the SW coasts of the central part of Crete must have been occurred between 1415 and 1865 during a paroxysmal tectonic event and is probably related with the strong earthquake of 1604.
ABSTRACT The ancient fish tanks and fish traps of Crete are relics of the Roman domination of the... more ABSTRACT The ancient fish tanks and fish traps of Crete are relics of the Roman domination of the island; they were usually constructed near the major urban centers of that period. The direct relationship of their various functional characteristics with past sea levels and the relatively accurate determination of their construction dates establish them as sensitive indicators of sea level change through space and time.The fish tanks presented in detail in this study, namely those of Matala, Chersonissos, Mochlos and Sitia and the fish trap in the gulf of Zakros, have all been reported, recorded and/or interpreted in regard to their operation by previous researchers. In the absence of a comprehensive interdisciplinary approach to the issue, uneven methodologies, inaccurate data and wrong measurements have led to erroneous conclusions about sea level during their operation and about the size and direction of vertical tectonic movements in eastern Crete during the Upper Holocene.The present study is based on a new underwater survey, in the course of which the architectural and functional features of the ancient constructions were reexamined precisely; their depth from modern sea level was measured and their relationship with coastal landforms, indicative of a past sea levels, was investigated.A review of their manner of operation and their modern submerged position allowed the definition of a Roman mean sea level 1.24 m ± 0.09 m below the present one. The submersion of the central and eastern parts of Crete – included in the same tectonic block with a total length of at least 150 km – at an average tectonic rate of 0.65 mm/year during the last 1900 ± 100 years occurred, as is shown by historical evidence, during a paroxysmal tectonic event, probably related to the strong earthquake of 1604.
T nHIS ARTICLE is a preliminary report of the regional archaeological survey project focused on t... more T nHIS ARTICLE is a preliminary report of the regional archaeological survey project focused on the Western Mesara Plain (the modern eparchies of Pyrgio-tissa and Kainourgio) in southern Crete (Fig. 1; P1. 44) during 1984, 1986, and 1987.1 A Greek-American synergasia, the ...
The paper presents the evolution of the geographic environment imposed by sea-level changes in se... more The paper presents the evolution of the geographic environment imposed by sea-level changes in selected sites of the Aegean Sea region during the Upper Holocene. The changes are due, mainly, to paroxysmic phases of the actual neotectonic evolution and to differential-in time and space--block movements, and emerged or submerged coasts. The reconstitution of these coasts is presented and, in some cases, natural harbor morphology is revealed. The use and evolution of these sites is discussed. Other sites concern coastal or inland ancient settlements or constructions affected by submersion by the sea, by the rise of the groundwater table, or by uplift movements. A general discussion on engineering measures to be applied for protection of the antiquities affected by these geographic changes closes the presentation.
ABSTRACT The ancient fish tanks and fish traps of Crete are relics of the Roman domination of the... more ABSTRACT The ancient fish tanks and fish traps of Crete are relics of the Roman domination of the island; they were usually constructed near the major urban centers of that period. The direct relationship of their various functional characteristics with past sea levels and the relatively accurate determination of their construction dates establish them as sensitive indicators of sea level change through space and time.The fish tanks presented in detail in this study, namely those of Matala, Chersonissos, Mochlos and Sitia and the fish trap in the gulf of Zakros, have all been reported, recorded and/or interpreted in regard to their operation by previous researchers. In the absence of a comprehensive interdisciplinary approach to the issue, uneven methodologies, inaccurate data and wrong measurements have led to erroneous conclusions about sea level during their operation and about the size and direction of vertical tectonic movements in eastern Crete during the Upper Holocene.The present study is based on a new underwater survey, in the course of which the architectural and functional features of the ancient constructions were reexamined precisely; their depth from modern sea level was measured and their relationship with coastal landforms, indicative of a past sea levels, was investigated.A review of their manner of operation and their modern submerged position allowed the definition of a Roman mean sea level 1.24 m ± 0.09 m below the present one. The submersion of the central and eastern parts of Crete – included in the same tectonic block with a total length of at least 150 km – at an average tectonic rate of 0.65 mm/year during the last 1900 ± 100 years occurred, as is shown by historical evidence, during a paroxysmal tectonic event, probably related to the strong earthquake of 1604.
ABSTRACT The ancient fish tanks and fish traps of Crete are relics of the Roman domination of the... more ABSTRACT The ancient fish tanks and fish traps of Crete are relics of the Roman domination of the island; they were usually constructed near the major urban centers of that period. The direct relationship of their various functional characteristics with past sea levels and the relatively accurate determination of their construction dates establish them as sensitive indicators of sea level change through space and time.The fish tanks presented in detail in this study, namely those of Matala, Chersonissos, Mochlos and Sitia and the fish trap in the gulf of Zakros, have all been reported, recorded and/or interpreted in regard to their operation by previous researchers. In the absence of a comprehensive interdisciplinary approach to the issue, uneven methodologies, inaccurate data and wrong measurements have led to erroneous conclusions about sea level during their operation and about the size and direction of vertical tectonic movements in eastern Crete during the Upper Holocene.The present study is based on a new underwater survey, in the course of which the architectural and functional features of the ancient constructions were reexamined precisely; their depth from modern sea level was measured and their relationship with coastal landforms, indicative of a past sea levels, was investigated.A review of their manner of operation and their modern submerged position allowed the definition of a Roman mean sea level 1.24 m ± 0.09 m below the present one. The submersion of the central and eastern parts of Crete – included in the same tectonic block with a total length of at least 150 km – at an average tectonic rate of 0.65 mm/year during the last 1900 ± 100 years occurred, as is shown by historical evidence, during a paroxysmal tectonic event, probably related to the strong earthquake of 1604.
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Papers by Nikos Mourtzas
FLOODING SCENARIOS FOR 2050 AND 2100 FOR PAROIKIA BAY, PAROS ISLAND (CYCLADES): A PRELIMINARY REPORT
The island of Paros is undergoing to a continuous submergence caused by the combination of land subsidence and sea level rise that are continuously shaping its coastline. From low elevation aerial photogrammetric surveys and climatic data from the IPCC, we attempted a sea level rise scenario for the bay of Paroikia for AD 2050 and 2100. Thanks to the support of the Municipality of Paros, ultra-high resolution orthophotos have been collected through a UAV system, from which we extracted a detailed Digital Terrain Model for two nearby areas in the bay of Paroikia. Using the IPCC-AR5 global sea level projections adjusted for the Mediterranean region for the RCP2.6 and RCP8.5 climate change scenarios, in this preliminary report we present the expected sea level rise and the impact of marine flooding on the bay of Paroikia for the next decades. To this regard, land planners and decision makers should take into account scenarios similar to that reported in this study for cognizant coastal management.
THE GEOSWIM COASTAL SURVEY OF PAROS ISLAND, CYCLADES (GREECE)
Since 2012 the Geoswim programme has been investigating coastal landforms along the Mediterranean rocky shores and their lateral variations, through snorkelling and field surveys. The focus of Geoswim investigation is collecting physical/chemical and ecological data relevant to the evaluation of past to future sea level changes. In spring 2017 we explored Paros (Cydadic islands, Greece), which is characterized by a prevalently rocky coastline.
We surveyed a total amount of 29.9 km of coastline in 8 working days, from a minimum of 1.8 km to a maximum of 7.9 km per day. During the surveys we collected a total amount of xxx time-lapse images at the sea level, and temperature and electrical conductivity measurements at 5cm and 30 cm below the water surface. Moreover, thousands of supporting images from both land and sea were collected to document point observations along the survey track.
ARCHAEOLOGICAL INDICATORS OF THE RELATIVE SEA LEVEL CHANGE ALONG THE COAST OF PAROS (CYCLADES, GREECE)
A large number of ancient remains, including rubble mound breakwaters, lighthouses, pro-tective rockfills and cairn-like landmarks, sea walls and building foundations, rock-cut trenches, threshing floors, quarryscapes, tombs and other coastal buildings such as workshops, farmhouses or warehouses dated to from the Late Neolithic to Modern Times, allowed us to determine the age of six distinct sea level stands that were deduced from robust geomorphological indicators recorded all along the coast of Paros Island.
During the Final Neolithic, the northern insular cluster of the Paros-Antiparos Strait was char-acterized by the Saliogos culture. When the sea level was at -4.90 ± 0.10 m lower than at present, Saliagos islet was the hilly ridge of a small cape at the northern end of a land area, which occupied the northern part of the Paros-Antiparos Strait joining together the two islands. This extended land enabled the early habitants to settle in the western side of the small cape and develop an impor¬tant culture with various activities. A rockfill embankment was placed all along the southern edge of the then land, starting from the coast of Antiparos and ended in Paros. It was probably a coastal defensive work of great importance for that period.
During the Geometric period, the sea level rose by 1.40 m and shifted to -3.50 ± 0.20 m lower than at present. On the NW coast of Naousa Gulf, the inhabitants of the Geometric settlement located on the hill of the small cape constructed a rubble mound breakwater to further protect the sheltered bay of Agios loannis Detis. At the same time, in the NE side of Naousa Gulf, the well- fortified settlement on Oikonomou Island could be approached from the sea through the shallow bay of Zoodochos Pigi, shaped between the NE coast of Oikonomou Island and the opposite coast of Paros Island. Two large piles of stones founded on the then rocky outcrop of Oikonomou Island, now a reef, were probably lighthouses signaling the coast and enabling ships to approach the bay, while a road paved with large slabs seems to have provided communication between the two op¬posite shores.
The coastal vine cultivation with the method of planting in elongate rock-cut parallel trenches or parallel rows of rectangular cuttings seems to have been a systematic way of viticulture in Paros and the adjacent islands in antiquity. This method probably started from the Classical period and continued until the Hellenistic, according to parallels from archaeological sites in Northern Greece, Attica and NW Peloponnese. Based on the observed difference in height between the contempo¬rary coastal vine cultivation in Paros and the present mean sea level, the relationship between the ancient vine cultivation and the then shoreline points to a sea level at -3.50 ± 0.20 m lower than at present.
During the Roman period, when the sea level was at -2.40 ± 0.20 m lower than at present, the large building complex found on the SE coast of Paroikia Gulf in the workshops area ('Magazakia'), was connecting to the town by a road starting from the Ekatontapyliani area. The road passing through the Roman cemetery ended in the shore in front of the building and behind two cairn-like landmarks that were probably constructed to signal the then shoreline. During the same period and with this sea level, a rubble mound breakwater was constructed on Krotiri coast, on the NW side of Paroikia Gulf. A aeolianite quarryscape located at the southernmost tip of Tigani Islet, in the middle of the Tigani-Panteronisi Strait, was also in use at that time.
During the Venetian period, when the sea level had shifted to -1.35 ± 0.20 m lower that at present, a circular tower with firing apertures ('Castelli') was added for defensive purposes to the continuation of the seawall at the entrance of the small harbour of Naousa. The Casteli was founded on the shaped surface of a rocky outcrop, about 2 m above the then sea level. At that time, at the coastal plain of Laggeri bay on the NE coast of Naousa Gulf, at least five threshing floors that were then located near the coast and now under the sea, seems that have served a significant cereal production. The subsequent sea level rise to -0.80 ± 0.10 m lower than at present inundated the closest threshing floor to the shore and caused coastal shoreline erosion. It was then that all along the seafront of the coastal farmhouse a protective rockfill was placed, which was submerged in turn when the sea level rose to -0,45 ± 0,10 m lower than at present and then to its current stand.
The palaeogeographic reconstruction of the Paros-Antiparos Strait and Paroikia Bay, vividly illustrates the change in the coastal geography along with the rising sea levels and provides a better understanding of the interplay between coastal human activity and shoreline from the Final Neolithic to date.
MARINE TRANSGRESSION DURING THE LATE HOLOCENE ALONG THE COAST OF PAROS ISLAND (CYCLADES, GREECE)
Geomorphological and archaeological indicators of former sea levels along the coast of Paros enabled us to determine and date six distinct sea level stands and the relative sea level (rsl) changes between them, as well as plot the rsl curve for the last 6,300 years. The Late Holocene history of the rsl change in Paros began with the sea level at 4.90 ± 0.10 m below mean sea level (bmsl) dated to the Late Neolithic period (4300 BC-3700 BC). The next sea level at 3.50 ± 0.20 m bmsl is dated to the Geometric and Archaic periods of the Cyclades (1050 BC-490 BC) and most probably lasted during the Hellenistic period (323-146 BC). The sea level at 2.40 ± 0.25 m bmsl is dated to the Roman period (146-400 AD) and the next sea level at 1.35 ± 0.20 m bmsl to the Venetian period of the Cyclades (1207-1537). The sea level at 0.80 ± 0.10 m bmsl is dated to after the Venetian period, during the Ottoman rule of the island (1537-1821). The youngest sea level stand at 0.45 ± 0.10 m bmsl is attributed to the recent change in the sea level after the late 19th century onward. The separation between glacio-hydro-isostatic signals and the observed rsl change on Paros Island, in an area of seismic quiescence, demonstrates a significant tectonic component in the rsl changes. Moreover, the sea level stands deduced from Paros in comparison with those from the northern Cyclades indicate a uniform tectonic behaviour of the entire northern and central section of the Cyclades plateau.
FLOODING SCENARIOS FOR 2050 AND 2100 FOR PAROIKIA BAY, PAROS ISLAND (CYCLADES): A PRELIMINARY REPORT
The island of Paros is undergoing to a continuous submergence caused by the combination of land subsidence and sea level rise that are continuously shaping its coastline. From low elevation aerial photogrammetric surveys and climatic data from the IPCC, we attempted a sea level rise scenario for the bay of Paroikia for AD 2050 and 2100. Thanks to the support of the Municipality of Paros, ultra-high resolution orthophotos have been collected through a UAV system, from which we extracted a detailed Digital Terrain Model for two nearby areas in the bay of Paroikia. Using the IPCC-AR5 global sea level projections adjusted for the Mediterranean region for the RCP2.6 and RCP8.5 climate change scenarios, in this preliminary report we present the expected sea level rise and the impact of marine flooding on the bay of Paroikia for the next decades. To this regard, land planners and decision makers should take into account scenarios similar to that reported in this study for cognizant coastal management.
THE GEOSWIM COASTAL SURVEY OF PAROS ISLAND, CYCLADES (GREECE)
Since 2012 the Geoswim programme has been investigating coastal landforms along the Mediterranean rocky shores and their lateral variations, through snorkelling and field surveys. The focus of Geoswim investigation is collecting physical/chemical and ecological data relevant to the evaluation of past to future sea level changes. In spring 2017 we explored Paros (Cydadic islands, Greece), which is characterized by a prevalently rocky coastline.
We surveyed a total amount of 29.9 km of coastline in 8 working days, from a minimum of 1.8 km to a maximum of 7.9 km per day. During the surveys we collected a total amount of xxx time-lapse images at the sea level, and temperature and electrical conductivity measurements at 5cm and 30 cm below the water surface. Moreover, thousands of supporting images from both land and sea were collected to document point observations along the survey track.
ARCHAEOLOGICAL INDICATORS OF THE RELATIVE SEA LEVEL CHANGE ALONG THE COAST OF PAROS (CYCLADES, GREECE)
A large number of ancient remains, including rubble mound breakwaters, lighthouses, pro-tective rockfills and cairn-like landmarks, sea walls and building foundations, rock-cut trenches, threshing floors, quarryscapes, tombs and other coastal buildings such as workshops, farmhouses or warehouses dated to from the Late Neolithic to Modern Times, allowed us to determine the age of six distinct sea level stands that were deduced from robust geomorphological indicators recorded all along the coast of Paros Island.
During the Final Neolithic, the northern insular cluster of the Paros-Antiparos Strait was char-acterized by the Saliogos culture. When the sea level was at -4.90 ± 0.10 m lower than at present, Saliagos islet was the hilly ridge of a small cape at the northern end of a land area, which occupied the northern part of the Paros-Antiparos Strait joining together the two islands. This extended land enabled the early habitants to settle in the western side of the small cape and develop an impor¬tant culture with various activities. A rockfill embankment was placed all along the southern edge of the then land, starting from the coast of Antiparos and ended in Paros. It was probably a coastal defensive work of great importance for that period.
During the Geometric period, the sea level rose by 1.40 m and shifted to -3.50 ± 0.20 m lower than at present. On the NW coast of Naousa Gulf, the inhabitants of the Geometric settlement located on the hill of the small cape constructed a rubble mound breakwater to further protect the sheltered bay of Agios loannis Detis. At the same time, in the NE side of Naousa Gulf, the well- fortified settlement on Oikonomou Island could be approached from the sea through the shallow bay of Zoodochos Pigi, shaped between the NE coast of Oikonomou Island and the opposite coast of Paros Island. Two large piles of stones founded on the then rocky outcrop of Oikonomou Island, now a reef, were probably lighthouses signaling the coast and enabling ships to approach the bay, while a road paved with large slabs seems to have provided communication between the two op¬posite shores.
The coastal vine cultivation with the method of planting in elongate rock-cut parallel trenches or parallel rows of rectangular cuttings seems to have been a systematic way of viticulture in Paros and the adjacent islands in antiquity. This method probably started from the Classical period and continued until the Hellenistic, according to parallels from archaeological sites in Northern Greece, Attica and NW Peloponnese. Based on the observed difference in height between the contempo¬rary coastal vine cultivation in Paros and the present mean sea level, the relationship between the ancient vine cultivation and the then shoreline points to a sea level at -3.50 ± 0.20 m lower than at present.
During the Roman period, when the sea level was at -2.40 ± 0.20 m lower than at present, the large building complex found on the SE coast of Paroikia Gulf in the workshops area ('Magazakia'), was connecting to the town by a road starting from the Ekatontapyliani area. The road passing through the Roman cemetery ended in the shore in front of the building and behind two cairn-like landmarks that were probably constructed to signal the then shoreline. During the same period and with this sea level, a rubble mound breakwater was constructed on Krotiri coast, on the NW side of Paroikia Gulf. A aeolianite quarryscape located at the southernmost tip of Tigani Islet, in the middle of the Tigani-Panteronisi Strait, was also in use at that time.
During the Venetian period, when the sea level had shifted to -1.35 ± 0.20 m lower that at present, a circular tower with firing apertures ('Castelli') was added for defensive purposes to the continuation of the seawall at the entrance of the small harbour of Naousa. The Casteli was founded on the shaped surface of a rocky outcrop, about 2 m above the then sea level. At that time, at the coastal plain of Laggeri bay on the NE coast of Naousa Gulf, at least five threshing floors that were then located near the coast and now under the sea, seems that have served a significant cereal production. The subsequent sea level rise to -0.80 ± 0.10 m lower than at present inundated the closest threshing floor to the shore and caused coastal shoreline erosion. It was then that all along the seafront of the coastal farmhouse a protective rockfill was placed, which was submerged in turn when the sea level rose to -0,45 ± 0,10 m lower than at present and then to its current stand.
The palaeogeographic reconstruction of the Paros-Antiparos Strait and Paroikia Bay, vividly illustrates the change in the coastal geography along with the rising sea levels and provides a better understanding of the interplay between coastal human activity and shoreline from the Final Neolithic to date.
MARINE TRANSGRESSION DURING THE LATE HOLOCENE ALONG THE COAST OF PAROS ISLAND (CYCLADES, GREECE)
Geomorphological and archaeological indicators of former sea levels along the coast of Paros enabled us to determine and date six distinct sea level stands and the relative sea level (rsl) changes between them, as well as plot the rsl curve for the last 6,300 years. The Late Holocene history of the rsl change in Paros began with the sea level at 4.90 ± 0.10 m below mean sea level (bmsl) dated to the Late Neolithic period (4300 BC-3700 BC). The next sea level at 3.50 ± 0.20 m bmsl is dated to the Geometric and Archaic periods of the Cyclades (1050 BC-490 BC) and most probably lasted during the Hellenistic period (323-146 BC). The sea level at 2.40 ± 0.25 m bmsl is dated to the Roman period (146-400 AD) and the next sea level at 1.35 ± 0.20 m bmsl to the Venetian period of the Cyclades (1207-1537). The sea level at 0.80 ± 0.10 m bmsl is dated to after the Venetian period, during the Ottoman rule of the island (1537-1821). The youngest sea level stand at 0.45 ± 0.10 m bmsl is attributed to the recent change in the sea level after the late 19th century onward. The separation between glacio-hydro-isostatic signals and the observed rsl change on Paros Island, in an area of seismic quiescence, demonstrates a significant tectonic component in the rsl changes. Moreover, the sea level stands deduced from Paros in comparison with those from the northern Cyclades indicate a uniform tectonic behaviour of the entire northern and central section of the Cyclades plateau.