Paleolandscape Reconstruction
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Recent papers in Paleolandscape Reconstruction
The goal of geophysical research in 2021 was a comprehensive study of the bottom of Durankulak Lake (Fig. 1). The following tools was employed: Side Scan Sonar 2 pcs. (StarFish 450H and StarFish 990) with visualization system for... more
The goal of geophysical research in 2021 was a comprehensive study of the bottom of Durankulak Lake (Fig. 1). The following tools was employed: Side Scan Sonar 2 pcs. (StarFish 450H and StarFish 990) with visualization system for obtaining information about the nature of the lake bottom and the presence and / or absence of artificial objects; Compact sub bottom - SES 2000 Compact for bottom depth scanning and surface stratigraphy detection; and DGPS coordinating system with Heading (Trimble SPSx61) in Roll RTK configuration and geo-electrical resistance meter. Multibeam echosounder was also used to supplement the data.
According to the tracing data, we were able to select only one layer of mud deposited on the strongly denuded rocks in Durankulak Lake. In places the muddy layer reaches a depth of over 4 m. The reason why the layers cannot be clearly traced in depth is the fact that the muddy bottom, due to the decomposition of deposited organic material, generates a constant swamp gas that shields the signal and limits the breakthrough capabilities of the equipment. In the environment of moving water masses, as is the case with the Black Sea bottom, this is not the case, but with the stagnant water of Durankulak Lake, this has become an insurmountable problem.
In Durankulak Lake, 10 electric cross-sections were made, covering its entire area. The defined boundaries of the layers are stratified on the basis of specific resistances. The results confirmed the previous observations that the riverbed and flood terraces of the ancient river were formed by gravels, sands (mostly near the modern coastline), clay and precipitated loess. Of interest are the rise and fall of the strata registered in several of the profiles, which (unprovable for now) could be interpreted as indications of the presence of fault lines.
Summarizing the results obtained from the research of Durankulak Lake and the adjacent Black Sea shelf, we draw a clear picture of the paleorelief of the area (Fig. 4). The contours of the ancient river, as well as the river pools areas, became very apparent. It was found that in some places the width of the ancient river reached 70–80 m. The greatest measured depth is in the eastern part of the lake – -4.25 m from elevation 0, the modern water mirror. Detailed bathymetry shows that the area around the Big and Small Islands has a slightly special relief. At about 50 m to the north, the bottom drops to -3.20 m. There is a large depression which can be interpreted as a river pool, a swampy area during the dry months of the year. Data have been found between the two islands for the presence of a pronounced rib connecting them, an indication of the existence in ancient times of a land connection between the Big and Small Islands. The established terrain configuration on the western bank of the ancient river showed that in ancient times the areas south and north of the Big Island were relatively flat and probably inhabited.
Data from the side-scan sonar (Compact sub bottom) show that in front of the eastern cape of the Big Island there is a significant accumulation of stones. Scattered stones are also found on the eastern shore of the lake, opposite the Small Island. The sonar images also show the contours of a sunken boat, as well as those of several of the metal cylindrical girders of the pontoon once connecting the coast with the Small Island.
According to the tracing data, we were able to select only one layer of mud deposited on the strongly denuded rocks in Durankulak Lake. In places the muddy layer reaches a depth of over 4 m. The reason why the layers cannot be clearly traced in depth is the fact that the muddy bottom, due to the decomposition of deposited organic material, generates a constant swamp gas that shields the signal and limits the breakthrough capabilities of the equipment. In the environment of moving water masses, as is the case with the Black Sea bottom, this is not the case, but with the stagnant water of Durankulak Lake, this has become an insurmountable problem.
In Durankulak Lake, 10 electric cross-sections were made, covering its entire area. The defined boundaries of the layers are stratified on the basis of specific resistances. The results confirmed the previous observations that the riverbed and flood terraces of the ancient river were formed by gravels, sands (mostly near the modern coastline), clay and precipitated loess. Of interest are the rise and fall of the strata registered in several of the profiles, which (unprovable for now) could be interpreted as indications of the presence of fault lines.
Summarizing the results obtained from the research of Durankulak Lake and the adjacent Black Sea shelf, we draw a clear picture of the paleorelief of the area (Fig. 4). The contours of the ancient river, as well as the river pools areas, became very apparent. It was found that in some places the width of the ancient river reached 70–80 m. The greatest measured depth is in the eastern part of the lake – -4.25 m from elevation 0, the modern water mirror. Detailed bathymetry shows that the area around the Big and Small Islands has a slightly special relief. At about 50 m to the north, the bottom drops to -3.20 m. There is a large depression which can be interpreted as a river pool, a swampy area during the dry months of the year. Data have been found between the two islands for the presence of a pronounced rib connecting them, an indication of the existence in ancient times of a land connection between the Big and Small Islands. The established terrain configuration on the western bank of the ancient river showed that in ancient times the areas south and north of the Big Island were relatively flat and probably inhabited.
Data from the side-scan sonar (Compact sub bottom) show that in front of the eastern cape of the Big Island there is a significant accumulation of stones. Scattered stones are also found on the eastern shore of the lake, opposite the Small Island. The sonar images also show the contours of a sunken boat, as well as those of several of the metal cylindrical girders of the pontoon once connecting the coast with the Small Island.
The city of Cartagena and its immediate surroundings have experienced significant topographical changes throughout its history. Originally built on five hills which border south and west with the Mediterranean Sea, the city has expanded... more
The city of Cartagena and its immediate surroundings have experienced significant topographical changes throughout its history. Originally built on five hills which border south and west with the Mediterranean Sea, the city has expanded to the north over the last five decades, occupying a lacustrine system which has now dried up due to the diversion of riverbeds which, from time to time, used to flood the place. These changes have been documented and studied from the lithology present in over 400 geotechnical drillings carried out in the urban renewal of the city for the last two decades. In addition, another 20 new continuous drillings have been conducted within the Project " Surveying and planning a privileged Mediterranean city, Arqueotopos I and II " which is still ongoing. The information obtained is completed with the study of all existing historical maps on it. Digital Terrain Models (DTMs) have been generated with this drilling data, then several lithological layers have been selected for its interest: anthropic fill, mud and underlying bedrock. The thickness of each of the layers has been studied in different areas and viewed through various longitudinal profiles that have been plotted. Finally, a three-dimensional (3D) virtual reconstruction has been undertaken to see graphically the documented changes that have occurred in each of these layers, to serve both research and divulgation knowledge. Resumen: La ciudad de Cartagena y su entorno inmediato ha experimentado significativos cambios topográficos a lo largo de su historia. La ciudad, levantada originariamente sobre cinco cerros que limitan al sur y al oeste con el mar Mediterráneo, se ha extendido en las últimas décadas hacia el norte, ocupando un sector lacustre subsidente, ahora desecado por el desvio de los cauces que recurrentemente lo encharcaban. Estos cambios han sido documentados y estudiados a partir de la litología presente en cerca de 400 sondeos geotécnicos realizados en la renovación urbana de la ciudad durante las dos últimas décadas, así como en otros 20 nuevos sondeos de perforación contínua realizados dentro de los Proyectos " Topografía y urbanismo de una urbe mediterránea privilegiada, Arqueotopos I y II " actualmente en curso. La información obtenida se ha completado con el estudio de toda la cartografía histórica existente sobre la misma. Desde esta información se han elaborado modelos digitales del terreno (MDTs) de distintas capas litológicas seleccionadas por su interés: relleno antrópico, fangos y roca subyacente. Se ha podido estudiar así la potencia de cada una de las capas en diferentes zonas y visualizarlas a través de los distintos perfiles longitudinales que se han trazado. Finalmente, se ha realizado una reconstrucción virtual tridimensional (3D) que permite apreciar gráficamente las variaciones documentadas que se han producido en cada una de dichas capas, con fines tanto investigadores como de divulgación.
Within the geoarchaeological research project „Reconstruction of the Ancient Cultural Landscape of the Sarno River Plain“ undertaken by the German Archaeological Institute in cooperation with the Heidelberg Academy of Sciences and... more
Within the geoarchaeological research project „Reconstruction of the Ancient Cultural Landscape of the
Sarno River Plain“ undertaken by the German Archaeological Institute in cooperation with the Heidelberg
Academy of Sciences and Humanities/University of Tübingen a methodology was developed to model the
spatial dispersion of volcanic deposits of Somma-Vesuvius volcanic complex since its Plinian eruption AD
79. Eventually, this was done to reconstruct the paleo-topography and paleo-environment of the Sarno River
plain before the eruption AD 79. We collected, localized and digitized more than 1,800 core drillings to gain a
representative network of stratigraphical information covering the entire plain. Besides other stratigraphical data
including the characteristics of the pre-AD 79 stratum, the depth to the pre-AD 79 paleo-surface was identified
from the available drilling documentation. Instead of applying a simple interpolation of the drilling data, we
reconstructed the pre-AD 79 paleo-surface with a sophisticated geostatistical methodology using a machine based
learning approach based on classification and regression trees. We hypothesize that the present-day topography
reflects the ancient topography, because the eruption of AD 79 coated the ancient topography, leaving ancient
physiographic elements of the Sarno River plain still recognizable in the present-day topography. Therefore, a
high resolution, present-day digital elevation model (DEM) was generated. A detailed terrain analysis yielded 15
different primary and secondary topographic indices of the present-day DEM. Then, a classification and regression
model was generated combining the present-day topographic indices to predict the depth of the pre-AD 79 surface.
This model was calibrated with the measured depth of the pre-AD 79 surface from the drilling data. To gain a
pre-AD 79 digital elevation model (DEM) the modeled depth of the pre-AD 79 surface was subtracted from the
present-day DEM.
To reconstruct some paleo-environmental features, such as the paleo-coast and the paleo-river network and its flood
plain, the modeled pre-AD 79 DEM was compared with the classified characteristic of the pre-AD 79 stratum,
identified from the drilling documentation. It is the first time that the paleo-topography and paleo-environmental
features of the Sarno River basin were systematically reconstructed using a detailed database of input variables
and sophisticated data mining technologies.
Sarno River Plain“ undertaken by the German Archaeological Institute in cooperation with the Heidelberg
Academy of Sciences and Humanities/University of Tübingen a methodology was developed to model the
spatial dispersion of volcanic deposits of Somma-Vesuvius volcanic complex since its Plinian eruption AD
79. Eventually, this was done to reconstruct the paleo-topography and paleo-environment of the Sarno River
plain before the eruption AD 79. We collected, localized and digitized more than 1,800 core drillings to gain a
representative network of stratigraphical information covering the entire plain. Besides other stratigraphical data
including the characteristics of the pre-AD 79 stratum, the depth to the pre-AD 79 paleo-surface was identified
from the available drilling documentation. Instead of applying a simple interpolation of the drilling data, we
reconstructed the pre-AD 79 paleo-surface with a sophisticated geostatistical methodology using a machine based
learning approach based on classification and regression trees. We hypothesize that the present-day topography
reflects the ancient topography, because the eruption of AD 79 coated the ancient topography, leaving ancient
physiographic elements of the Sarno River plain still recognizable in the present-day topography. Therefore, a
high resolution, present-day digital elevation model (DEM) was generated. A detailed terrain analysis yielded 15
different primary and secondary topographic indices of the present-day DEM. Then, a classification and regression
model was generated combining the present-day topographic indices to predict the depth of the pre-AD 79 surface.
This model was calibrated with the measured depth of the pre-AD 79 surface from the drilling data. To gain a
pre-AD 79 digital elevation model (DEM) the modeled depth of the pre-AD 79 surface was subtracted from the
present-day DEM.
To reconstruct some paleo-environmental features, such as the paleo-coast and the paleo-river network and its flood
plain, the modeled pre-AD 79 DEM was compared with the classified characteristic of the pre-AD 79 stratum,
identified from the drilling documentation. It is the first time that the paleo-topography and paleo-environmental
features of the Sarno River basin were systematically reconstructed using a detailed database of input variables
and sophisticated data mining technologies.
Late Glacial coversand landscapes are important archives of environmental change during the Pleistocene-Holocene transition as well as of Final Paleolithic human adaptation to these changes. However, extensive reconstruction of these... more
Late Glacial coversand landscapes are important archives of environmental change during the Pleistocene-Holocene transition as well as of Final Paleolithic human adaptation to these changes. However, extensive reconstruction of these landscapes is hampered by the fact that they are often preserved best when covered with later eolian, alluvial and/or marine sediments. These paleolandscapes are generally mapped by means of manual or mechanical coring to date, which is rather expensive and labor-intensive. This study aims to develop a more efficient methodology to map paleolandscapes buried within the coversand and below Holocene floodplain deposits , using a case study in NW Belgium. Electric cone penetration testing is established as a primary technique for mapping the paleotopography of thin organic rich layers within the coversand, in combination with core sampling for lithostrati-graphic correlation and validation. Radiocarbon dating and pollen analyses are used to investigate the chronological and biostratigraphic context, respectively. The results reveal the paleotopography of three undulating organic rich stabilization surfaces within the coversand, which were formed from the GI-1d to GI-1a. These paleosurfaces provide valuable contexts for studying Final Paleolithic archaeology in the coversand region specifically, but the developed methodology is applicable to Paleolithic archaeology in general. K E Y W O R D S electric cone penetration testing, Final Paleolithic geoarchaeology, paleotopographic modeling, prehistoric paleolandscape mapping
- by Frédéric Cruz and +1
- •
- Geoarchaeology, Final Paleolithic, Paleotopography, CPT Test
Reconstructions of landscape features at the end of the Middle and Late Neopleistocene were carried out based on the study of the small mammal’s fauna. Faunal data indicate a wide development of steppetype landscapes on the Pre-Altai... more
Reconstructions of landscape features at the end of the Middle and Late Neopleistocene were carried out based on the study of the small mammal’s fauna. Faunal data indicate a wide development of steppetype landscapes on the Pre-Altai Plain in the interval from MIS 6 to the beginning of MIS 2. Both in warm and cold seasons, gophers predominated among small mammals in the region; striped hamsters, jerboas, zokors, southern birch mouses, narrow-headed voles and lemmings were less common. All these species are typical inhabitants of open biocenoses of the steppe or tundra-steppe type. Reconstructions based on microteriofauna materials are in good agreement with the study of fossil soils of the Pre-Altai Plain. Fossil soils show the development of steppe and forest-steppe landscapes during periods of warming. During the cold stages, loess deposits accumulated in the region, which can be considered as indicators of cryoarid steppes.
Reconstructions of landscape features at the end of the Middle and Late Neopleistocene were carried out based on the study of the small mammal’s fauna. Faunal data indicate a wide development of steppe type landscapes on the Pre-Altai... more
Reconstructions of landscape features at the end of the Middle and Late Neopleistocene were carried out based on the study of the small mammal’s fauna. Faunal data indicate a wide development of steppe type landscapes on the Pre-Altai Plain in the interval from MIS 6 to the beginning of MIS 2. Both in warm and cold seasons, gophers predominated among small mammals in the region; striped hamsters, jerboas, zokors, southern birch mouses, narrow-headed voles and lemmings were less common. All these species are typical Inhabitants of open biocenoses of the steppe or tundra-steppe type. Reconstructions based on microteriofauna materials are in good agreement with the study of fossil soils of the Pre-Altai Plain. Fossil soils show the development of steppe and forest-steppe landscapes during periods of warming. During the cold stages, loess deposits accumulated in the region, which can be considered as indicators of cryoarid steppes.
- by Dmitriy Malikov and +1
- •
- Siberia, Pleistocene, Pleistocene mammals, Small Mammals
Reconstructions of landscape features at the end of the Middle and Late Neopleistocene were carried out based on the study of the small mammal’s fauna. Faunal data indicate a wide development of steppetype landscapes on the Pre-Altai... more
Reconstructions of landscape features at the end of the Middle and Late Neopleistocene were carried out based on the study of the small mammal’s fauna. Faunal data indicate a wide development of steppetype landscapes on the Pre-Altai Plain in the interval from MIS 6 to the beginning of MIS 2. Both in warm and cold seasons, gophers predominated among small mammals in the region; striped hamsters, jerboas, zokors, southern birch mouses, narrow-headed voles and lemmings were less common. All these species are typical inhabitants of open biocenoses of the steppe or tundra-steppe type. Reconstructions based on microteriofauna materials are in good agreement with the study of fossil soils of the Pre-Altai Plain. Fossil soils show the development of steppe and forest-steppe landscapes during periods of warming. During the cold stages, loess deposits accumulated in the region, which can be considered as indicators of cryoarid steppes.