This presentation focuses on the Bronze Age landscape evolution of Central Crete, which was investigated on the basis of a geoarchaelogical research design. A multi-method approach using geophysics, sedimentological analyses, terrestrial laser scanning, GIS and 3D visualization software was applied. According to the findings, human-environmental interactions such as extensive clearing, soil erosion and climate change led to the complete degradation of the mountains of Crete. Until today, the region was never colonized again due to unfavorable environmental conditions. In contrast to the current conditions, Central Crete experienced an era of bloom during the 2nd millenium BC that allowed people to settle and cultivate this remote landscape. A first-time visualization of the former landscape gives insight into this significant transition, which occurred at the end of the Minoan period around 1200 BC.

1. Les Journées des Jeunes Géomorphologues, Avignon, February 2011
Christoph Siart 1, Matthieu Ghilardi 2, Markus Forbriger 1 , Olaf Bubenzer 1
The spatial shift of the Cretan ecumene
during the 2nd millennium BC:
climate, social upheaval or both?
1 Geographical Institute – University of Heidelberg, Germany
2 CEREGE/CNRS – Aix‐en‐Provence, France

2. Les Journées des Jeunes Géomorphologues, Avignon, February 2011
Siart et al.: The spatial shift of the Cretan ecumene during the 2nd millennium BC
Objectives
• reconstructing the Holocene environmental change in Crete
• natural impact on ancient cultures?
• human impact and landuse?
 investigation of karst depressions (geoarchives)
Methods
• terrestrial laserscanning (TLS), remote sensing & GIS
• geophysical prospection (ERT) & percussion drilling
• sedimentological analysis & datings
• mineralogical provenance (XRD, SEM‐EDX, EPMA etc.)
• 3D visualisation

3. Les Journées des Jeunes Géomorphologues, Avignon, February 2011
Siart et al.: The spatial shift of the Cretan ecumene during the 2nd millennium BC
Case studies
A) Zominthos (~ 1650 BC, Minoan period)

4. Les Journées des Jeunes Géomorphologues, Avignon, February 2011
Siart et al.: The spatial shift of the Cretan ecumene during the 2nd millennium BC
Zominthos: Electrical resistivity tomography ‐ off‐site studies
subsurface karst relief

5. Les Journées des Jeunes Géomorphologues, Avignon, February 2011
Siart et al.: The spatial shift of the Cretan ecumene during the 2nd millennium BC
Zominthos: ERT on‐site studies
subsurface archaeological remains

6. Les Journées des Jeunes Géomorphologues, Avignon, February 2011
Siart et al.: The spatial shift of the Cretan ecumene during the 2nd millennium BC
Zominthos: Subsurface karst relief model
transferring geophysics into 3D
Data:
ER‐ & SR tomographies
1.5 m high resolution DEM
Hydrologic analysis ‐ ArcGIS
Quickbird MS pansharpened

7. Les Journées des Jeunes Géomorphologues, Avignon, February 2011
Siart et al.: The spatial shift of the Cretan ecumene during the 2nd millennium BC
Zominthos: Sedimentological investigations
AMS 14C datings: palaeosoils ~2900 BC
Santorini ash in depths of 10 m b.s (~ 1620 BC)
 geomorphodynamic activity only since CPX
Late Minoan / Subboreal (1600 BC)
 massive erosion and colluviation OPX
 complete degradation in only a few centuries
OPX
&
glass

8. Les Journées des Jeunes Géomorphologues, Avignon, February 2011
Siart et al.: The spatial shift of the Cretan ecumene during the 2nd millennium BC
Climate change in the Eastern Mediterranean

9. Les Journées des Jeunes Géomorphologues, Avignon, February 2011
Siart et al.: The spatial shift of the Cretan ecumene during the 2nd millennium BC
Case studies
B) Lato (~ 1400 / 800 BC, Mycenean / Dorian period)

10. Les Journées des Jeunes Géomorphologues, Avignon, February 2011
Siart et al.: The spatial shift of the Cretan ecumene during the 2nd millennium BC
Lato: ERT off‐site studies
subsurface karst relief
superficial high resistivities (colluvium, footslope deposits)
fine‐grained,
unconsolidated sediment
transition zone
high basal resistivities (limestone detritus mixed
(limestone bedrock) with loose material)
 thick fill with loamy sediment (~ 25m), conical subsurface relief with
dip towards doline center, bedrock in depths of approx. 20‐25 m

11. Les Journées des Jeunes Géomorphologues, Avignon, February 2011
Siart et al.: The spatial shift of the Cretan ecumene during the 2nd millennium BC
Lato: ERT on‐site studies
subsurface archaeological remains
heterogeneous surface caused
by anthropogenic perturbation
archaeological finds?
fine‐grained, unconsolidated
sediment below 2.5 m, no
structures identified

12. Les Journées des Jeunes Géomorphologues, Avignon, February 2011
Siart et al.: The spatial shift of the Cretan ecumene during the 2nd millennium BC
Lato: ERT‐TLS on‐site studies
the morphological context
spring
S
R recent surface drainage
A (active gully)
ancient drainage channel
or water harvesting system
(subsurface structures)

13. Les Journées des Jeunes Géomorphologues, Avignon, February 2011
Siart et al.: The spatial shift of the Cretan ecumene during the 2nd millennium BC
The Cretan mountains today
landscape degradation and climate alteration

14. Les Journées des Jeunes Géomorphologues, Avignon, February 2011
Siart et al.: The spatial shift of the Cretan ecumene during the 2nd millennium BC
The Cretan mountains BC
3D visualisation of the
ancient landscape

15. Les Journées des Jeunes Géomorphologues, Avignon, February 2011
Siart et al.: The spatial shift of the Cretan ecumene during the 2nd millennium BC
General conclusions
•dolines and poljes as favorable sites for land use since Bronze
Age (water supply, agriculture, etc.)
• karst depressions as promising palaeoenvironmental archives
•vast colluviation & decameters of infills since Bronze‐Age as a
result of land degradation and climatic change
•water supply, the primary settlement determinant, displays
profound dependency on climatic conditions and changes
•neo determinism: man‐environment interactions led to spatial
shift of the ecumene  multi‐causal approach

16. Les Journées des Jeunes Géomorphologues, Avignon, February 2011
Siart et al.: The spatial shift of the Cretan ecumene during the 2nd millennium BC
Thank you for your attention,
merci beaucoup pour votre attention!