Sea-level changes and shoreline reconstruction in the ancient city of Delos (Cyclades, Greece)

Abstract

The coastal areas of the island of Delos, located at the centre of the Cyclades archipelago (Greece), are rich in submerged Hellenistic archaeological vestiges. This submersion can be explained by changes in relative sea-level: the recent 14C datings of submerged beachrock occurrences of Delos and the nearby islands of Mykonos and Rhenia suggest that the sea level was at about-2.5 m (± 0.5 m) around 400 BC [1, 2]. Such result has enabled to confirm and refine Negris'early-twentieth-century hypothesis that the submersion can be accounted for by the relative sea-level rise. From this result, together with bathymetric maps, archaeological studies and stratigraphic data, the Hellenistic coastal landscapes on the western side of Delos have been reconstructed. The Sacred Harbour (including the Agora of the Competaliasts) and the "Pointe des Pilastres" landscapes (located to the South) resembled those of the current Greek harbours: the paved walkways or esplanades bordering buildings or shops were separated from the sea by a beach onto which boats were drawn. The landscape of the "Maisons au flanc de la Colline" sector (located to the North) seems to have been different. These houses were located on a rocky platform, in a sector exposed to the north swell. © 2007 Lavoisier SAS. All rights reserved.