engleski

Relative sea-level change in the Central Adriatic during the last 2 ka years – a pluridisciplinary approach

The study of sea-level variations today is more and more pluridisciplinarily approached. Geomorphological, sedimentological, archaeological and biological indicators are used and combined. In studying the 2 ka of relative sea-level change along the Croatian Adriatic coast, different markers have been used. One of the first markers used were the submerged archaeological remains which were later combined with geomorphological markers. In order to approach the problem pluridisciplinary we started to work on the biological markers combining them systematically to the all other available data. The morphology of well-developed Lithophyllum rims combined with 14C dating revealed four phases of relative sea-level changes during the last 1.5 ka. Large algal rims grew during near-stable sea-level conditions that occurred during two relatively colder periods: the Dark Ages Cold Period and the Little Ice Age. This stabilisation has at the same time its morphological reflection in the formation of the tidal notches in the studied area. During the Medieval Climate Anomaly and the Current Warm Period the sea-level rise at a much higher rate. Our study concludes on a rise of a relative sea-level of about 60±10 cm since 1500 years ago in the Central Adriatic. Thus our results cast new light on the sea-level of Vis Island during Antiquity, which was higher than previously reconstructed on existing submerged archaeological remains. Consequently, this means that the most of the upper level blocks of the submerged Issa quays are missing. On the other side, the perforated dolia found in situ now perfectly fit in the new biologically defined sea-level (-110±25 cm) for the 1900 ± 100 yr BP period. Our results clearly demonstrate the relationship between biological, geomorphological and archaeological sealevel markers and also environmental conditions on the studied area in the past and the clear need of such multidisciplinary approach in the study of the relative sea level changes.

sea-level change; Lithophyllum rims; climate change; Central Adriatic

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