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Historical environmental changes at phalasarna harbor, West Crete
Author(s) -
Pirazzoli P. A.,
AusseilBadie J.,
Giresse P.,
Hadjidaki E.,
Arnold M.
Publication year - 1992
Publication title -
geoarchaeology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.696
H-Index - 44
eISSN - 1520-6548
pISSN - 0883-6353
DOI - 10.1002/gea.3340070406
Subject(s) - archaeology , port (circuit theory) , excavation , structural basin , geology , tsunami wave , geography , paleontology , seismology , electrical engineering , engineering
The ongoing archaeological excavations that started in 1986 on the site of the harbor of Phalasarna have confirmed that the ancient port described as a closed harbor by ancient geographers is, due to the regional uplift of west Crete, now situated on dry land, about 6.6 m above sea level. In this paper, after summarizing the geological background, the main historical sources and recent archaeological results, new stratigraphical data obtained from the sediments filling the harbor basin are presented and discussed. The harbor was fortified in the second part of the 4th century B.C. It was a military port, probably a base for pirates, and was destroyed and abandoned in the second part of the first century B.C. After that time the harbor basin was rapidly silted by marine then terrestrial sedimentation. Deposits corresponding to two tsunami waves have been identified and ascribed to events occurring in 66 A.D. and 365 A.D., respectively. About 1530 ± 40 yr B.P., probably in 365 A.D., when west Crete was suddenly uplifted by 6–9 m, Phalasarna harbor was removed permanently from marine influence. Radiometric dating confirms that the harbor could not have been in use in Roman times, in contradiction with ancient Periploi , which continue to mention Phalasarna port until at least the second or third century A.D.