Universität zu Köln

Morellon, Mario, Anselmetti, Flavio S., Ariztegui, Daniel, Brushulli, Brunhilda, Sinopoli, Gaia, Wagner, Bernd ORCID: 0000-0002-1369-7893, Sadori, Laura ORCID: 0000-0002-2774-6705, Gilli, Adrian ORCID: 0000-0003-4193-2157 and Pambuku, Arben (2016). Human-climate interactions in the central Mediterranean region during the last millennia: The laminated record of Lake Butrint (Albania). Quat. Sci. Rev., 136. S. 134 - 153. OXFORD: PERGAMON-ELSEVIER SCIENCE LTD. ISSN 0277-3791

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Abstract

Lake Butrint (39 degrees 47 N, 20 degrees 1 E) is a ca. 21 m deep, coastal lagoon located in SW Albania where finely laminated sediments have been continuously deposited during the last millennia. The multi-proxy analysis (sedimentology, high-resolution elemental geochemistry and pollen) of a 12 m long sediment core, supported by seven AMS radiocarbon dates and Cs-137 dating, enable a precise reconstruction of the environmental change that occurred in the central Mediterranean region during the last similar to 4.5 cal kyrs BP. Sediments consist of triplets of authigenic carbonates, organic matter and clayey laminae. Fluctuations in the thickness and/or presence of these different types of seasonal laminae indicate variations in water salinity, organic productivity and runoff in the lake's catchment, as a result of the complex interplay of tectonics, anthropogenic forcing and climate variability. The progradation of the Pavllo river delta, favoured by variable human activity from the nearby ancient city of Butrint, led to the progressive isolation of this hydrological system from the Ionian Sea. The system evolved from an open bay to a restricted lagoon, which is consistent with archaeological data. An abrupt increase in mass-wasting activity between 1515 and 1450 BC, likely caused by nearby seismic activity, led to the accumulation of 24 homogenites, up to 17 cm thick. They have been deposited during the onset of finely laminated sedimentation, which indicates restricted, anoxic bottom water conditions and higher salinity. Periods of maximum water salinity, biological productivity, and carbonate precipitation coincide with warmer intervals, such as the early Roman Warm Period (RWP) (500 BC-0 AD), the Medieval Climate Anomaly (MCA) (800-1400 AD) and recent times (after 1800 AD). Conversely, lower salinity and more oxic conditions, with higher clastic input were recorded during 1400-500 BC, the Late Roman and the Early Medieval periods (0-800 AD) and during the Little Ice Age (1400-1800 AD). Hydrological fluctuations recorded in Butrint are in phase with most central and western Mediterranean records and correlate with NAO variability. In contrast, opposite hydrological patterns have been recorded in the Eastern Balkans and the Levant during the last millennium, emphasizing a complex spatial variability in the region. Phases of maximum settlement intensity in Butrint (Roman-Late Antique) coincide with warmer and/or stable climate periods (0-800 AD and MCA, respectively), indicating a long-term influence of climatic conditions on human activities. The Late Holocene sedimentary record of Lake Butrint demonstrates the complex interplay of climate variability, tectonics and human impact in the recent evolution of coastal Mediterranean regions. (C) 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Item Type:	Journal Article
Creators:	Creators Email ORCID ORCID Put Code Morellon, Mario UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED Anselmetti, Flavio S. UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED Ariztegui, Daniel UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED Brushulli, Brunhilda UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED Sinopoli, Gaia UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED Wagner, Bernd UNSPECIFIED orcid.org/0000-0002-1369-7893 UNSPECIFIED Sadori, Laura UNSPECIFIED orcid.org/0000-0002-2774-6705 UNSPECIFIED Gilli, Adrian UNSPECIFIED orcid.org/0000-0003-4193-2157 UNSPECIFIED Pambuku, Arben UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED
URN:	urn:nbn:de:hbz:38-281277
DOI:	10.1016/j.quascirev.2015.10.043
Journal or Publication Title:	Quat. Sci. Rev.
Volume:	136
Page Range:	S. 134 - 153
Date:	2016
Publisher:	PERGAMON-ELSEVIER SCIENCE LTD
Place of Publication:	OXFORD
ISSN:	0277-3791
Language:	English
Faculty:	Unspecified
Divisions:	Unspecified
Subjects:	no entry
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Keywords Language HOLOCENE VEGETATION HISTORY; NORTH-ATLANTIC OSCILLATION; ENVIRONMENTAL-CHANGE; COASTAL LAGOON; ECOSYSTEM RESPONSE; GEOCHEMICAL RECORD; SOUTHERN ALBANIA; WESTERN GREECE; HUMAN IMPACT; MULTI-PROXY Multiple languages Geography, Physical; Geosciences, Multidisciplinary Multiple languages
Refereed:	Yes
URI:	http://kups.ub.uni-koeln.de/id/eprint/28127