Palaeogeographical reconstructions of Lake Maliq (Korça Basin, Albania) between 14,000 BP and 2000 BP

Abstract

International audienceSince the early 1990s, excavations of a protohistoric lakeside settlement in the Korça basin carried out by a French–Albanian archaeological team have induced geomorphological and palynological studies about the sedimentary records of Lake Maliq. These studies allow us to distinguish a series of centennial-scale high and low lake level events between 4200 and 4000 cal BP (2899–2637 BC/2843–2416 BC) and 2600 cal BP (822–671 BC), probably due to large-scale climate changes (in the Mediterranean basin). In addition, the sediment sequence also gives evidence of a millennial-scale trend of lake level rise. It appears to be an interplay between lake level rises and falls against tectonic subsidence of the basin allowing accommodation space for sediment deposition. The variations of the lake's level and the lake's surface area influenced the development and the abandonment of the nearby lakeside settlements (like the tell of Sovjan). In order to prepare an archaeological survey around the now dried up lake, we made a 3D model of the Holocene deposit from the lake including these lake level results, geomorphological mapping, excavation data, numerous core logs, AMS 14 C dating and SRTM DEM data. The GIS model allowed us to propose four palaeogeographical reconstructions of the extension of Lake Maliq: around 14,000 BP, during the Mesolithic (around 9000 BP – 8781–8542 BC), the Early/Middle Bronze Age transition (around 3800 BP – 2310–2042 BC) and the Iron Age (2600 BP – 822–671 BC). A map of the thickness of the sediments above potential archaeological layers is also proposed

Palaeohydrological changes during the mid and late Holocene in the Carpathian area, central-eastern Europe

“…The flood frequency records from lake sediments north of the Alps (Czymzik et al, 2013;Swierczynski et al, 2013) denote a first increase in extreme hydro-meteorological events in central Europe between 4200 and 2500 cal yr BP. On the contrary, in the Balkan region decreased moisture availability was documented (Fouache et al, 2010;Lacey et al, 2014;Leng et al, 2013;Morellon et al, 2016;Zanchetta et al, 2012). However, in Lake Ighiel, we observe during this time the highest incidence of centennial-scale periods of increased detrital influx in the entire profile (Fig.…”

“…11) which correspond to increased frequency in flood activity in the NE Alps (Wirth et al, 2013), higher incidence of hydrological events in the Ammersee record (Czymzik et al, 2013), high lake levels (Magny, 2004) and overall increased flood activity in CE Europe (Starkel, 2002), a period of low flood activity in Lake Mondsee (Swierczynski et al, 2013). However, these events of increased erosional activity contrasts with the warm although moist conditions recorded by the Balkan lake records of Butrint (Morellon et al, 2016), Skhodra (Zanchetta et al, 2012), Maliq (Fouache et al, 2010) and Ohrid (Lacey et al, 2014).…”

Lipid biomarkers in Holocene and glacial sediments from ancient Lake Ohrid (Macedonia, Albania)

“…However, to our knowledge substantial human settlements are not documented until the onset of the Neolithic, i.e. after the 8.2 ka event, in the neighbouring Korça Basin (Fouache et al, 2010). Although intriguing, the occurrence of coprostanol therefore needs systematic tracking in highresolution studies.…”

“…However, this does not necessarily indicate higher soil erosion during these periods. According to a number of paleoclimatological studies regional climate was considerably drier during the glacial and the 8.2 ka event (Bordon et al, 2009;Fouache et al, 2010). If the long-chain n-alkanoic acids derive primarily from less degraded plant litter it is rather likely that their contribution was diminished in response to precipitation-controlled changes in the vegetation cover and lower biomass productivity.…”

The last 7 millennia of vegetation and climate changes at Lago di Pergusa (central Sicily, Italy)

“…It is interesting to note what happened in other Mediterranean sites: the lake level at lake Malik (Albania) is medium/high between 2600 and 2000 cal BP (Fouache et al, 2010) and at lake Accesa (central Italy) between ca. 2800 and 2000 cal BP (Magny et al, 2007).…”