A MARINE GEOARCHAEOLOGICAL SURVEY, CAPE SOUNION, GREECE: PRELIMINARY RESULTS

Abstract

The present study presents the results of the preliminary marine geophysical survey conducted in 2006 at the gulf of Sounion, southern Attica, Greece. The site is of great archaeological importance since cape Sounion served as a navigational landmark and a naval fortress protecting the sea-lanes towards the metropolis of Athens and the silver mines of Lavreotiki during the Classical and Hellenistic periods. Parts of the coastal ancient installations are now submerged. The results of the collected geophysical data include the examination of the seafloor texture and stratigraphy. Therefore a geomorphological map of the gulf was constructed based on the configuration of the substrate and the seafloor stratigraphy. Archaeological remains lying on the seafloor have been detected on the sonographs and have been correlated with the results of previous studies. The development and the evolution of the gulf during the prehistoric period were evaluated via the sea floor stratigraphy and the prediction of sea level change in the area based on the eustatic and glacio-hydro-isostatic response. The sea level change during the historic period was examined and a relative sea level rise of at least 2,5-3,0 m was suggested for the last 2500 years based on the marine geophysical survey results.