NE Peloponnese Research Articles

Deciphering the Evolution of Adjacent Volcanogenic Massive Sulfide (VMS) Systems Based on Radiogenic and Stable Isotopes, the Case of Ermioni, Argolis Peninsula, Ne Peloponnese, Greece

The study follows previous work on Ermioni VMS and addresses in detail the formation and evolution of two adjacent VMS systems, Karakasi and Roro. It is based on a stable and radiogenic isotopic composition of sulfides and ganguefrom stringer (Karakasi) and massive (Roro) VMS ore. The isotopic geochemistry of Pb and noble gases (Ar-He) of pyrite from both sites indicates the development of a deep and evolved heat and possibly metal source attributed to subduction of radiogenic material (Pindos oceanic crust). The differences in the stable (Fe, S) and radiogenic (Sr, Ar) isotopic compositions between the two sites depict variation in the geologic environment of VMS formation, and in particular the effect of seawater. The higher δ57Fe and δ34S values of Roro massive pyrite are attributed to direct interaction of hot, ascending metal-bearing hydrothermal fluids with cold seawater. Karakasi stringer oreis characterized by higher 87Sr/86Sr ratios and radiogenic Ar values (as 40Ar/36Ar), indicating interaction of ore-bearing, hydrothermal fluids with crustal material (hanging-wall turbidites). During the approximate 0.5 Ma period separating the two systems, the hydrothermal system migrated from east to west, and at the same time evolved from free discharge on the seafloor (Roro—easterly), resembling contemporary seafloor style and mound-shaped massive sulfides, to a sediment-confined, subseafloor system (Karakasi—westerly).

The Evolution of an Ancient Coastal Lake (Lerna, Peloponnese, Greece)

Degradation of coastal environments is an issue that many areas in Europe are facing. In the present work, an ancient coastal lake wetland is investigated, the so-called Lake Lerna in NE Peloponnese, Greece. The area hosted early agricultural populations of modern Greece that started modifying their environment as early as the early–middle Neolithic. Two drill cores in the area of the ancient lake were analysed to establish the sedimentological succession and the depositional environments using sub-fossil assemblages (molluscs and ostracods). Three lithological and faunal units were recovered, the latter being confirmed by the statistical ordination method (non-metric multidimensional scaling). The usage of sub-fossil mollusc species for the first time in the region enriched the dataset and contributed significantly to the delimitation of the faunas. These consist of environments characterised by various levels of humidity (from stagnant waters to freshwater lake) and salinity, with ephemeral intrusions of salt water to the lake, documented by mollusc and ostracod populations. We conclude that the lake and its included fauna and flora were mostly affected by climatic fluctuations rather than human intervention in the area.

Land use, climate change and ‘boom-bust’ sequences in agricultural landscapes: Interdisciplinary perspectives from the Peloponnese (Greece)

We show that long-term and comparative studies are imperative if we are to identify the interlinkage between land use and climate and understand how vulnerabilities build over time and ultimately decide the societal outcomes of climate change. Using a long-term perspective, we study changes in both the extent and intensity of land use in NE Peloponnese, Greece, across more than two thousand years, from the end of the Middle Bronze Age to Roman times (~1800 BCE–330 CE). When set against a backdrop of paleoclimate information from the Peloponnese, the correspondence between changes in land use extent and climate is significant. Sequences of booms and busts in ancient societies have previously been connected to cycles of agricultural intensification and the balance between population and food supply. Our results suggest that climate can amplify such cycles, but also – importantly – that societies create their own futures in the way that they are able to balance agricultural strategies relative to climate and climate change. Climate conditions may facilitate additional expansion during boom periods, supported by socio-political control functions, but also introduce significant impediments to previously successful strategies and ultimately lead to a crisis through an overexploitation of existing resources.

Elevated groundwater concentrations of arsenic and chromium in ultramafic environments controlled by seawater intrusion, the nitrogen cycle, and anthropogenic activities: The case of the Gerania Mountains, NE Peloponnese, Greece

This study aimed to investigate the role of seawater intrusion, nitrogen (N)-cycle, and anthropogenic activities on the elevated groundwater concentrations of oxyanion-forming trace elements in an ultramafic environment and to study the factors controlling the hydrogeochemical characteristics of groundwater in a broader, ultramafic-dominated area of the Gerania Mountains in NE Peloponnese, Greece. Sixty-eight groundwater samples from the a) Schinos area, b) Loutraki area, and c) springs in the Gerania Mountains were analysed for an extensive set of physical and chemical parameters. Elevated concentrations of As, up to 15 μg/L, along the coastline in the Schinos area, and abnormally high concentrations of Cr6+, up to 460 μg/L, in the central part of the Schinos area, were recorded. The strong spatial correlation of Cr6+, NO3-, and P in the central part of the Schinos area, indicated that the release and subsequent oxidation of geogenic Cr in groundwater can be triggered by N and P anthropogenic inputs, such as a) septic tank effluents or N-bearing fertilisers that lead to nitrification and subsequent soil acidification and drive Cr3+ oxidation by the NO2−/NO3− redox couple and b) P-bearing fertilisers that cause the desorption of anionic Cr6+ with simultaneous PO43- adsorption and contribute additional Cr and other trace elements to the soils. Unlike Cr, geogenic As follows a different pattern of groundwater release mechanism, which is driven by seawater intrusion and initial stages of denitrification along a flowpath near the Schinos coastline, as pointed out by the strong positive correlation coefficient between As and Cl− (0.78). The increased salinity controls the mobilisation of As and other oxyanion-forming trace elements, such as B, Se, and V, resulting in their elevated groundwater concentrations through a) their desorption from the surface of Fe/Mn-oxyhydroxides under alkaline pH conditions, b) the reductive dissolution of Fe/Mn-oxyhydroxides under local hypoxic conditions, and c) an increase in the ionic strength of groundwater favouring the dissolution of Fe/Mn-oxyhydroxides.

Quaternary continental shelf basins of Saronikos Gulf, Aegean Sea

The Saronikos Gulf hosts the northwestern end of the South Aegean Active Volcanic Arc. It is affected by extensional back-arc tectonism in a prominent N-S direction, while older E-W rifting is also manifested. Recently acquired swath bathymetry and high-resolution seismic profiles led to the precise morphological mapping of five Quaternary continental shelf basins, along with their neotectonic delineations and their cross-correlation to the onshore active fault zones. Aegina and Methana basins, in the southeast Saronikos Gulf, display subsidence along ENE-WSW and NW-SE axes, and continuous marine sedimentation throughout the Upper Quaternary. Salamina basin in the northeast Saronikos Gulf is a shallow, relatively stable sedimentary basin, intermittently connected to the SE and NW Saronikos Gulf through the Aegina-Fleves and the Aegina-Salamina plateau respectively. In the western and most active region of Saronikos Gulf, the onshore E-W–trending faults of Kechrees and Agios Vassileios extend eastwards until the Salamina-Aegina plateau. The Megara basin is WNW-ESE oriented, possibly affected by the N-S Korfos fault valley, which connects the Megara and Epidavros basins. E-W–trending faults tilt the Quaternary sedimentary blocks, in compatibility to the N-S extensional tectonic regime of the adjacent Gulf of Corinth. Prograding clinoforms in the Megara and Epidavros basins reveal an Upper Quaternary-age intermittent connection to the open sea. Mass transport deposits and volcanic flows in-between the Upper Quaternary sediments of the Epidavros basin manifest the 500–400 ka tectonic phase that affected both the NE Peloponnese coast and the active N-S and NW-SE to WNW-ESE striking faults of the Epidavros basin margin.

Climate changes in the Eastern Mediterranean over the last 5000 years and their links to the high-latitude atmospheric patterns and Asian monsoons

Abstract This research aims to improve the knowledge of the mid to late Holocene climate changes and the underlying drivers in the eastern Mediterranean. We focus on the Peloponnese peninsula, SW Greece, characterized by a W-E rainfall/temperature gradient and a strong climate-sensitivity to shifts in the large-scale atmospheric patterns. A radiocarbon-dated sediment core, taken from the ancient Lake Lerna, a former lake in NE Peloponnese, was analyzed for distribution and hydrogen isotope (δD) composition of n-alkanes and bulk organic geochemistry (δ13C, TOC). The predominantly macrophyte (submerged/floating)-derived δD23 profile exhibits the largest long-term fluctuation in the record and co-varies with δD of long-chain n-alkanes providing evidence for precipitation and temperature changes over the last 5000 years. The Lerna δD23 signal is sometimes in agreement with other n-alkane δD records from SW Peloponnese indicating wetter conditions in the peninsula at ca 5000–4600, ca 4500–4100, ca 3000–2600 (more unstable in SW) and after ca 700 cal BP with drier periods at ca 4100–3900 and ca 1000–700 cal BP. Conversely, a NE-SW climate see-saw is revealed at ca 4600–4500, ca 3200, ca 2600–1800, and ca 1200–1000 cal BP when the δD23 Lerna exhibits more positive trends (drier in NE) with a reversal at ca 3900–3300, ca 3200–3000 and ca 1800–1300 cal BP. These opposing and sometimes similar signals between NE and SW Peloponnese can be explained by the relative dominance of high-latitude atmospheric patterns over the peninsula. A similar signal would be expected when the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) exerts the main control with NAO (+) creating conditions of reduced moisture. The dipole pattern is likely driven by shifts in North Sea–Caspian Atmospheric pattern (NCP), which account for the present-day regional climate variability with NCP (+) leading to wetter and colder conditions in NE Peloponnese. The Asian monsoonal system likely has an additional impact on the δD variabilities through influencing the summer temperatures. There is a consistency between the Peloponnesian δD signals and monsoonal records after ca 4000 cal BP confirming the actualistic models. Strong monsoonal periods coincide with cooler summers (lower δD values) in Lerna, due to the northerly winds, the Etesians. On the contrary, SW Peloponnese is dominated by warmer conditions during the same periods as the area is located on the lee side of the mountain and highly influenced by the adiabatic warming associated with the subsidence over the Eastern Mediterranean.

Mycenaean glass from the Argolid, Peloponnese, Greece: A technological and provenance study

Major glass-technology achievements and the spread of glass artifacts are mostly outlined in the archaeological record between the 16th and 12th c. BCE with its advances being linked to Mesopotamia and Egypt (Henderson, 2013 [1]). During the Late Bronze Age, Peloponnese is acknowledged as a major area of the Mycenaean world witnessed by the wealth and ubiquity of its material culture. Within the framework of a large research program, glass collections from 16th–13th c. BCE Late Bronze Age/Mycenaean sites in NE Peloponnese, Greece, have been studied analytically and tailored to address issues related to questions such as, whether glass was imported in the form of ingots and/or previously shaped artifacts via exchange routes or produced in local glassmaking workshops. A first study of the collection towards its state of preservation and provenance assignments was presented in Zacharias et al. (2013) [2].The aim of this paper is to identify the technology and source of the primary glass used and, thus, to appoint the Mycenaean glass industry of Argolid within the broader Mycenaean, Mediterranean network and further Egypt and Mesopotamia.The study resulted in the chemical fingerprinting of the collection with the use of the totally non-invasive techniques of Optical Microscopy (OM), X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF), Prompt Gamma Activation Analysis (PGAA) and Scanning Electron Microscopy coupled with an Energy Dispersive X-Ray Analyser - (SEM/EDS) in quasi invasive mode. The statistical analyses provided technological evidence for compositional similarities among the samples that form two major compositional groups, with at least the one associated with artifacts originating from Egypt. Regarding their coloration at least two cobalt colorants can be identified with respect to the cobalt-associated impurities.

Modelling surface geomorphic processes using the RUSLE and specific stream power in a GIS framework, NE Peloponnese, Greece

Mediterranean regions, with climate variability and long histories of human disturbance, are particularly vulnerable to soil erosion and sediment redistribution. This study examines surface soil stability and stream energy of the 243 km2 Inachos River watershed in the northeast Peloponnese, Greece. This mountainous, semi-arid Mediterranean region has an extensive history of human activity. Soil loss and stream energy are each quantified by applying the Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE) using the Unit Stream Power Erosion Deposition (USPED) method and the specific stream power approach to the main river channels. These models are used to indicate the spatial variability in geomorphic activity. Results show an average soil loss for the Inachos River catchment of 15.0 t ha−1 a−1, exceeding the rate of soil formation. Values range from nil in low gradient environments to 4287 t ha−1 a−1 in steep, mountainous regions. Gradient and rainfall erosivity are the primary factors. High specific stream power in the upper watershed exceeds 17,100 W m−2, resulting in the mobilization of sediment into channelized debris flows that transport sediment from the steep hillslopes. Episodic high-magnitude precipitation events promote the longitudinal connectivity of the catchment. The long occupation and agricultural history, extending as far back as Neolithic time, has accelerated downslope sediment transport.

Mineralogy and microfabrics of claybearing sediments of NE Peloponnese (Greece): indices for physical behaviour in civil engineering works

AbstractThe mineralogical composition, microfabrics and geochemistry of a set of eight samples derived from a narrow area of NE Peloponnese (Greece), where engineering works are presently in progress, were investigated in this study. No important mineralogical differences were observed between the samples other than a variation in the proportions of the participating phases. Analyses reveal that these sediments consist mainly of carbonates (calcite, dolomite), quartz and feldspars (albite, orthoclase). Carbonate minerals exhibit a micritic texture and a high degree of cementation bonding. Phyllosilicates and clay minerals are also common, with smectite and mixed-layer smectite-chlorite being the prevailing phases, followed by chlorite and white mica (muscovite, illite). According to the physical properties measured on bulk samples, the samples were found to exhibit a low to medium expansion, low to intermediate plasticity, normal activity and brittle behaviour. The porosity does not exceed 46% and the organic matter ranges between 3.80 and 5.00%. The high degree of cementation, the dispersed appearance of clays, the small pores (<10 μm) and the common occurrence of smectite in a mixed-layer with chlorite are all favourable characteristics, positively influencing the sediment's stability for engineering constructions.

Colluvial and alluvial sediment archives temporally resolved by OSL dating: Implications for reconstructing soil erosion

Colluvial and alluvial sediments represent important geoarchives to reconstruct long-term soil erosion and to gain insight into the complex system of sediment cascades and sediment fluxes within a catchment. In this respect, the temporal information of sediment archive formation is essential and achievable through optical stimulated luminescence (OSL) dating. In this study, colluvial and alluvial sediments from a mesoscale catchment in northern Bavaria were investigated and dated by OSL. Insufficient sediment bleaching was detected for some of the samples. In these cases, the method proposed by Fuchs and Lang [Fuchs, M., Lang, A., 2001. OSL dating of coarse-grain fluvial quartz using single-aliquot protocols on sediments from NE Peloponnese, Greece. Quaternary Science Reviews 20, 783–787.] was applied for equivalent dose ( D e ) determination. The calculated OSL ages are in stratigraphic order and their accuracy is confirmed by 14C age control. Based on the chronostratigraphies for alluvial and colluvial archives, there is a dominant synchronous sedimentation history for the Medieval and Modern period, but initiation of Holocene sedimentation occurred at different times in the upper and lower parts of the catchment. The latter phenomenon might be explained by the decoupled sediment fluxes between both the slope–channel system and the upper and lower catchment.

An assessment of human versus climatic impacts on Holocene soil erosion in NE Peloponnese, Greece

Soil erosion is a natural geomorphological process, which can be triggered by both natural (climate, tectonics, or both) and anthropogenic (e.g., agriculture) perturbation of the ecosystem. Evidence has accrued that the Holocene climate experienced large fluctuations in amplitude and suggestions of human impact on the ecosystem provided by the Neolithic revolution dating back to the early Holocene have been made. The question of whether man or climate was the dominant factor responsible for Holocene soil erosion remains unresolved. To resolve the reasons for Holocene sediment redistribution, high-resolution chronometric data on sediments derived from colluvial and alluvial archives from southern Greece were obtained and combined with available archaeological and paleoclimatic data from the eastern Mediterranean. These data show a significant correlation between sedimentation rates and settlement history. Climatic fluctuations are only weakly correlated with sedimentation history. The results show high sedimentation rates during the Early Neolithic (7th millennium BC) in southern Greece, suggesting that Holocene soil erosion was triggered by human activity and then amplified by enhanced precipitation. This would explain the high sedimentation rates during the Early Neolithic in connection with enhanced precipitation in the eastern Mediterranean, which continued until the mid-Holocene.

Chronostratigraphy of a sediment record from the Hajar mountain range in north Oman: Implications for optical dating of insufficiently bleached sediments

In this study we report on optical stimulated luminescence (OSL) ages of quartz extracted from a sedimentary record in the N-Oman mountain range. Equivalent dose ( D E ) distributions derived from single aliquot measurements (SAR) of small aliquots (ca. 200 grains) were investigated to test whether the skewness and broadness of the dose distribution can be used as criteria for the identification of insufficient bleaching. Furthermore, the methods proposed by Lepper and McKeever [2002 An objective methodology for dose distribution analysis. Radiation Protection Dosimetry 101 (1–4), 349-352]. Singhvi [Juyal, N., Chamyal, L.S., Bhandari, S., Bushan, R., Singhvi, A.K., in press. Continental record of the southwest monsoon during the last 130 ka: evidence from the southern margin of the Thar Desert, India. Quaternary Science Review] and Fuchs and Lang [2001 Fuchs, M., Lang, A., 2001. OSL dating of coarse-grain fluvial quartz using single-aliquot protocols on sediments from NE Peloponnese, Greece. Quaternary Science Review 20, 783–787.] to derive D E 's from insufficiently bleached sediments were compared. At first, the investigations were carried out on artificially bleached, irradiated and mixed quartz material from the Oman study area to simulate insufficiently bleached sediments. Then, the various statistical methods for identifying insufficient bleaching and D E derivation were applied to the natural samples from the study area, where 18 samples were measured. For the identification of insufficient bleaching the preferential parameter is the broadness of a distribution. For D E calculation, both the Singhvi method and the Fuchs and Lang method produce similar results, which are consistent with the stratigraphic order. A drawback of both methods is their sensitivity to low outliers. The Lepper and McKeever method was not applied to the natural samples, due to limitations in its application to a small number of aliquots and due to the ambiguous identification of the rising limb of the dose distributions.

The history of Holocene soil erosion in the Phlious Basin, NE Peloponnese, Greece, based on optical dating

Anthropogenic induced soil erosion has occurred in the Mediterranean during historic and pre historic times, but precise timeframes for periods of past soil erosion are largely missing due to the lack of datable material and suitable dating methods. In this study, optical dating of colluvial sediments from the Phlious Basin, NE Peloponnese, Greece, was applied. The results show that soil erosion derived colluvium formed under a Mediterranean type climate can be successfully dated by optical stimulated luminescence (OSL), and a high-resolution chronology of Holocene soil erosion could be established. Colluvial formation occurred in the early Holocene, but increased distinctly in the seventh millennium, parallel with the onset of the Neolithic (the start of farming activities). Other periods of strong colluviation are the Middle and Late Bronze Age (second millennium), the Roman period (first century to sixth century) and the period since the sixteenth century. Rates of reduced colluviation occurred during the Chalcolithic to the Early Bronze Age (4500–2050 a) and the Early Iron Age (1065–725 a). Based on thin section analysis of the colluvial sediments, no traces of in-situ soil formation and thus no periods of landscape stability were detected for the Holocene. Results show that human activity is the dominant factor for Holocene landscape changes in the area studied.

The multiphase Eulerian-Lagrangian transport (MELT-3D) approach for modeling of multiphase mixing in fragmentation processes : Nourgaliev, R. R. et al. Progress in Nuclear Energy, 2003, 42, (2), 123–157

In this study we report on optical stimulated luminescence (OSL) ages of quartz extracted from a sedimentary record in the N-Oman mountain range. Equivalent dose (DE) distributions derived from single aliquot measurements (SAR) of small aliquots (ca. 200 grains) were investigated to test whether the skewness and broadness of the dose distribution can be used as criteria for the identification of insufficient bleaching. Furthermore, the methods proposed by Lepper and McKeever [2002 An objective methodology for dose distribution analysis. Radiation Protection Dosimetry 101 (1–4), 349-352]. Singhvi [Juyal, N., Chamyal, L.S., Bhandari, S., Bushan, R., Singhvi, A.K., in press. Continental record of the southwest monsoon during the last 130 ka: evidence from the southern margin of the Thar Desert, India. Quaternary Science Review] and Fuchs and Lang [2001 Fuchs, M., Lang, A., 2001. OSL dating of coarse-grain fluvial quartz using single-aliquot protocols on sediments from NE Peloponnese, Greece. Quaternary Science Review 20, 783–787.] to derive DE's from insufficiently bleached sediments were compared. At first, the investigations were carried out on artificially bleached, irradiated and mixed quartz material from the Oman study area to simulate insufficiently bleached sediments. Then, the various statistical methods for identifying insufficient bleaching and DE derivation were applied to the natural samples from the study area, where 18 samples were measured. For the identification of insufficient bleaching the preferential parameter is the broadness of a distribution. For DE calculation, both the Singhvi method and the Fuchs and Lang method produce similar results, which are consistent with the stratigraphic order. A drawback of both methods is their sensitivity to low outliers. The Lepper and McKeever method was not applied to the natural samples, due to limitations in its application to a small number of aliquots and due to the ambiguous identification of the rising limb of the dose distributions.

Geomorphological observations and related natural hazards using merged remotely sensed data: a case study in the corinthos area (ne peloponnese, s. greece)

Natural hazards are mostly related to the activation of combined geomorphological and geological processes that control landform development. The study area is located in the NE part of Peloponnese (Corinthos prefecture). It is a typical agricultural area with intense relief, the result of active tectonics and important human intervention. This study demonstrates the benefits from the synergism of SAR data (ERS‐2) and optical data (SPOT2‐XS) in order to highlight the possible natural‐hazardprone areas. These data give different and complementary information since the radar signal depends mostly on topography, surface roughness and soil moisture, whereas the visible/infrared channels provide spectral information mostly on vegetation and land use/cover. The application presented here was focused on the enhancement of the high erosion risk areas, the improvement of the terrain interpretation, the mapping and highlighting of the landform morphology, and a more accurate determination of the main factors that control the flooding risk of Corinthos town.

Geomorphological observations and related natural hazards using merged remotely sensed data: a case study in the Corinthos area (NE Peloponnese, S. Greece)

Geomorphological observations and related natural hazards using merged remotely sensed data: a case study in the Corinthos area (NE Peloponnese, S. Greece)

OSL dating of coarse-grain fluvial quartz using single-aliquot protocols on sediments from NE Peloponnese, Greece

Optical ages of quartz extracts in Holocene sediments from the north-eastern Peloponnese, Greece, are reported. The single-aliquot regenerative-dose protocol proposed by Murray and Wintle (2000, Radiation Measurements 32, 57–73) was used to estimate the equivalent dose in these samples. A large inter-aliquot scatter in D E values was observed for all samples; this is ascribed to heterogeneous bleaching of the samples at deposition. To estimate a D E for age calculation, a technique is suggested based on the analysis of the D E scatter obtained from nine different quartz samples which were artificially bleached and irradiated. This procedure is especially useful when the sample quantity is limited. The optical age estimates increase with sampling depth. An average aggradation rate of 1.5 mm/yr is derived using the OSL ages; this value is consistent with the known uplift rate of 1–2 mm/yr.

A footnote on the archaeology of power: animal bones from a Mycenaean chamber tomb at Galatas, NE Peloponnese

The zooarchaeological remains from a Mycenaean chamber tomb (LH II B–IIIc early) at Apatheia, Galatas, NE Peloponnese, are analysed and discussed. The bones offer evidence for mortuary dining ritual and for the ritual deposition of dog skeletons. The latter practice in Mycenaean burials is discussed and, contrary to previous interpretation, is connected to the social and ideological role of hunting in Mycenaean society.

Primary allanite in andesitic rocks from the Poros Volcano, Greece

AbstractPrimary allanite crystals occurring in andesitic rocks from Poros, NE Peloponnese, Greece were studied. Although the allanite shows high REE content, its presence does not affect the whole-rock REE content of the andesite. It is suggested that the formation of allanite crystals reflects the crystallization history of the andesitic rocks where allanite occurs. These andesitic rocks are the most basic rocks in which allanite has been reported.

Some Mycenaean Pictorial Pottery from Boeotian Thebes

Eight fragments of Mycenaean pictorial pottery discovered in excavations conducted by K. Demakopoulou in 1973 at 29 Pindar Street, Thebes, are described and discussed. An appendix presents a chemical analysis of the fragments. Comparison with other Mycenaean pictorial pottery and the chemical analysis leads to the same conclusion, that the first five samples were made at a Boeotian centre, not necessarily far from Thebes, while examples 6 and 7 were imported, their source being probably a centre, other than Mycenae, in the NE Peloponnese.