The eastern shores of the Baltic Sea in the Early Holocene according to natural and cultural relict data. Issue 1 (6th February 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Žulkus, Vladas; Girininkas, Algirdas
• Is Part Of: Geo. Volume 7:Issue 1(2020)
• Page Start: n/a
• Page End: n/a
• Publication Date: 2020-02-06
• Subjects: Baltic Sea level -- fluctuation -- Lithuania -- Mesolithic -- submerged coasts -- underwater archaeology -- underwater relict forests; Geography -- Periodicals; Environmental sciences -- Periodicals; 550
• DOI: 10.1002/geo2.87
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2054-4049

Abstract

Abstract : Exploration of the underwater landscape in Lithuanian waters, in the eastern part of the Baltic Sea, allowed identification of trees stumps in growth position, peat sediments, and traces of people that were living in the now flooded landscape. The exploration has been concentrated on localisation of the former Early Holocene coasts. Based on new data about sediment layers of the Preboreal‒Atlantis I, palynological and dendrohronological analysis, identified vegetation species, and dating of wood and peat samples by radiocarbon methods the Baltic Sea water level dynamics during the stages Yoldia Sea‒Early Litorina Sea could be identified. There are traces of the eroded coasts of the Yoldia Sea at a depth of 39–43 m, which were also observed at depths of 44 and 47 m. During the Ancylus Lake transgression, the RF‐I lagoons and small lakes with the peat layer and the surrounding forests were submerged. The water level could have even risen to 10–9 m below present sea level. The water drop during the Ancylus Lake regression is evidenced by a peat layer dated to 9, 150–8, 520 cal BP, and similar radiocarbon dating of an oak stump. The changes of the species composition of trees are indicative of the noticeable climate changes during the period 11, 410–7, 900 cal BP. Litorina transgression is marked by a tree stump found at a depth of 14.5 m dated to 7, 900–7, 660 cal BP. The preference of the Early Holocene population to the coastal zone is evidenced by poles driven into the seabed (one was dated to 9, 510–9, 460 cal BP) that were detected at a depth of 11 m and the T‐shaped antler axes dated to the Early Neolithic, washed ashore from the Litorina Sea coastal Stone Age settlements. Abstract : The exploration has been concentrated on localization of the former Early Holocene (Yoldia Sea, Ancylus Lake and Early Litorina Sea) coasts, their underwater landscape reconstruction and potential development of Mesolithic‒Early Neolithic settlements along the Lithuanian seashore. The recent investigations of the underwater archaeology by the Klaipėda University supplied new data for reconstruction of the Baltic Sea relict coasts, water level fluctuations, Early Holocene coastal landscape and settlements.