Mid- to Late Holocene geomorphodynamics in a long-term settled mountain catchment in the Pergamon micro-region, western Turkey

Bibliographic Data

ID24086770
AuthorsXun Yang (0000-0002-2033-3385, Freie Universität Berlin, corresponding author), Fabian Becker (0000-0001-6981-7164, Freie Universität Berlin), Moritz Nykamp (0000-0003-2074-1511, Freie Universität Berlin), Bernhard Ludwig (0000-0003-0955-9823, Freie Universität Berlin), Mehmet Doğan (0000-0003-3085-734X, Ege University), Turhan Doğan (0000-0002-1917-8437, Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey), Daniel Knitter (0000-0003-3014-4497), Brigitta Schütt (0000-0001-5644-9104, Freie Universität Berlin)
Year2023
Volume114
Pages69-92
Publication date2023-06-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueQuaternary Research (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0033-5894 • E-ISSN: 1096-0287
PublisherCambridge University Press (CUP) (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1017/qua.2022.73
OpenAlexW4322769889
LanguageEN
Citations received3
References cited129

From 300 BC to AD 300, the city of Pergamon underwent a profound transformation that impacted the rural settlement patterns and the concomitant geomorphodynamics. We present a geoarchaeological study in a long-term settled catchment in the Pergamon micro-region to disentangle the Holocene geomorphodynamics and triggering factors, for example, climate change and human activity. The analyses of eight radiocarbon-dated sediment profiles from the Tekkedere alluvial fan and its catchment indicate four principal sedimentation phases. Phase 1 (ca. 6.2 to 5–4 ka) is dominated by the floodplain aggradation of the receiving Bakırçay River, which is followed by the formation of floodplain soils (phase 2). Substantial geomorphodynamic changes occurred around 4 ka (phase 3), when the edge of the floodplain was buried by fan sediments of the tributary Tekkedere creek. This is attributed to supraregional aridization and rapid climate change events, superimposed by the onset of local human activities. Repeated cycles of coarse- and fine-textured fan sediments with age inversions after ca. 3.8 ka and valley infills younger than 1300 yr BP indicate the strong erosion and redeposition of sediments in phase 4. These increased geomorphodynamics may coincide with the changing settlement pattern and thus reflect human–environment interactions.

Aggradation · Alluvial fan · Alluvium · Climate change · Drainage basin · Erosion · Floodplain · Fluvial · Geography · Geomorphology · Holocene · Hydrology (agriculture) · Physical geography · Radiocarbon dating · Sediment · Structural basin · Tributary · Geological formations and processes · Geology · Geology and Paleoclimatology Research · Maritime and Coastal Archaeology · Oceanography · Paleontology