Geomorphological development of Zakynthos, Greece Relating geomorphology and artefact distribution

Abstract

This study was conducted within an archaeology project and was done to provide some insights to the relation between artefact distribution/ origin and geomorphological development during the late Pleistocene and Holocene. Geological, lithological and geomorphological research showed several distinguishable landscape units. In the western part of the study area a swamp is present that used to be a lake, which can be seen as a favorable location for ancient human settlement. Besides this geomorphology focused research, also archaeological surveys have been done around this swamp and at some main locations of interest north of the swamp (e.g. Kamaroti hill). This study concluded that the artefact distribution along Kamaroti hill can be related with a former marine environment that was implicated by lithological research. However, the headward erosion of the walls of the highly abundant agricultural terraces in the study area caused exposure of artefacts through time. This is one of the reasons for the archaeologically complexity of the scattering of artefact distribution. Thick accumulations of terra rossa between a relative isolated region between the mountains in the western part of the study area were related with ancient soil erosion on the mountain slopes and the subsequent colluvial transport to these sediment catches.