Stratigraphy of late-Holocene deposits of the ancient harbour of Marseilles, southern France

200370 citationsJournal Article

Authors

Christophe Morhange · Aix-Marseille Université

F. Blanc · Centre de Recherche et d’Enseignement de Géosciences de l’Environnement

S. Schmitt-Mercury · Centre de Recherche et d’Enseignement de Géosciences de l’Environnement

Michel Bourcier · Institut de Neurobiologie de la Méditerranée

Pierre Carbonel · Environnements et Paléoenvironnements Océaniques et Continentaux

Christine Oberlin · Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1

Abstract

The late-Holocene stratigraphy of Marseilles harbour is presented together with archaeological evidence and radiocarbon data. An anthropogenic oyster midden, dated between c. 4260 and 3400 14 C yr BP is followed by a period of siltation that ended the accretionary growth of an algal (marl) deposit. This event was caused by early human settlement. Subsequently the coastline was subject to progradation. It is argued here that the development of the first town of Marseilles, c. 2600 years ago, accelerated soil erosion and sediment deposition in the harbour area.

Topics & Keywords

Maritime and Coastal Archaeology Geology and Paleoclimatology Research Aeolian processes and effects

UN Sustainable Development Goals

Life below water

Publication Details

Published in: The Holocene

Volume 13, Issue 4, pp. 593-604

DOI: 10.1191/0959683603hl619rr

Field-Weighted Citation Impact: 35.42