Palaeogeographical Reconstruction of Ancient Diolkos Slipway by Using Beachrocks as Proxies, West Corinth Isthmus, Greece

Abstract

Beachrocks are well known as significant proxies for paleoenvironmental analysis as they indicate the coastal evolution. The combination of geomorphological and archaeological sea level indicators has a significant contribution to the coastal paleogeographic reconstruction. In this study, we studied a beachrock from the Diolkos area (West Corinth canal, Greece) and remnants of Diolkos slipway to reconstruct the coastal evolution before Diolkos construction until today. We conducted detailed mapping of Diolkos beachrock using DGPS-GNSS, as well as mineralogical analysis and OSL dating of beachrock samples. The results showed that a beachrock slab was preserved before the construction of Diolkos below it, followed by its submergence by a co-seismic event after Diolkos abandonment during 146 B.C. Consequently, a new beachrock was developed on top of the submerged Diolkos around 120 ± 14 A.D. The RSL was stable until 1596 ± 57 A.D. when the beachrock developed even closer to the present-day coastline. After 1596 A.D., it was uplifted by 12 cm until it reached today’s condition.

Late Quaternary Relative Sea-Level Changes and Vertical GNSS Motions in the Gulf of Corinth: The Asymmetric Localization of Deformation Inside an Active Half-Graben

“…A few sites have undergone repetitive phases of subsidence and uplift (cf. Diolkos [129]; Lechaion [157]; Helike fault system (Figure 4; [149])). This localized behavior may be due to the competition of motions due to seismic slip along neighboring normal faults, as it depends on the location of the coastal site with respect to the displaced block (i.e., footwall vs. hanging wall location).…”

“…Beachrocks are a very good sea-level proxy, because they contain information on both the horizontal and the vertical movements that have taken place in the coastal zone [128,129]. Facies analysis can be successfully utilized to reconstruct past sea-levels and sea-level changes [127].…”

“…Thus, the beachrock continued being developed, covering part of the ancient road. Consequently, after 1569 A.D., the area underwent at least one co-seismic uplift phase, the total uplift being approximately 12 cm [129] (Figure 5).…”

“…Thus, the beachrock continued being developed, covering part of the ancient road. Consequently, after 1569 A.D., the area underwent at least one coseismic uplift phase, the total uplift being approximately 12 cm [129] (Figure 5). In areas where tectonic activity is intense, such as the Gulf of Corinth, the pa ern and the features of the drainage basins often reflect the impact of tectonics [159][160][161][162].…”

Citizens’ Perspective on Coastal Erosion in Greece

“…Moreover, as many parts of the Greek shoreline are low-lying, they have been affected by the impacts of climate change [63]. Some of the most typical coastal areas in Greece that are subject to erosion due to human interventions include Diolkos, Corinth [71,72], Marathon, Attica [73], the coasts of Rhodope Prefecture [74], the broader area of Alexandroupolis harbor [75], the delta of the Nestor River [76], and the Cyclades [46,77].…”