Shoreline reconstruction of the submerged Minoan harbour morphology in the bay of Kato Zakros (Eastern Crete, Greece)

Abstract

The Minoan centre of Kato Zakros flourished in a favourable geographical location, naturally fortified, in a leeward bay providing a natural harbour morphology. The submerged geomorphological markers of former sea levels define four distinct sea level stands, at −4.00±0.30m, −2.85±0.30m, −1.25±0.05m, and −0.50±0.05m. The dating of these sea levels was based on the gradual rise of the brackish groundwater, observed at the building relics and the water supply installations of the Palace, as well as on submerged coastal rock-cut structures. The oldest change in sea level is associated with the violent seismic disaster of the old Palace that occurred around 1600BCE. The destruction of the new Palace occurred around 1450BCE and is related with a strong seismic event that hit all the Minoan centres of Crete, but it did not cause any change in the relative sea level. The following sea level change is most likely related with the demise of the Minoan centres of Crete around 1200BCE. During the historical period, two changes in relative sea level occurred. The first change is linked with the 1604CE earthquake, and the most recent with the period of the last 400years. The palaeoshoreline reconstruction of the Kato Zakros bay revealed a natural morphology, shaped by an elongate beachrock slab on the northernmost part of the western coast. Coastal responses to sea level rise include: progressive shoreline retreat, submersion of the natural harbour morphology and coastal fishing installations, and flooding of the Palace relics.