Holocene coastal change in the ancient harbor of Yenikapi-L·stanbul and its impact on cultural history

An extensive rescue excavation has been conducted in the ancient harbor of L·stanbul (Yenikapi) by the Sea of Marmara, revealing a depositional sequence displaying clear evidence of transgression and coastal progradation during the Holocene. The basal layer of this sequence lies at 6. m below the present sea level and contains remains of a Neolithic settlement known to have been present in the area, indicating that the sea level at ~. 8-9. cal ka BP was lower than 6. m below present. Sea level advanced to its maximum at ~. 6.8-7. cal ka BP, drowning Lykos Stream and forming an inlet at its mouth. After ~. 3. cal ka BP, coastal progradation became evident. Subsequent construction of the Byzantine Harbor (Theodosius; 4th century AD) created a restricted small basin and accumulation of fine-grained sediments. The sedimentation rate was increased due to coastal progradation and anthropogenic factors during the deposition of coarse-grained sediments at the upper parts of the sequence (7th-9th centuries AD). The harbor was probably abandoned after the 11th century AD by filling up with Lykos Stream detritus and continued seaward migration of the coastline. © 2011 University of Washington.ÖNAP-472We are grateful to Directors Dr. İsmail Karamut, Zeynep Kızıltan, chief archeologists Metin Gökçay and Yaşar Anılır, and site archeologist Sırrı Çömlekçi for their valuable and kind help at the field study. We thank Dr. Baki Yokeş for identifying mollusk samples for radiocarbon analysis. We are indebted to Prof. Peter Kuniholm and Dr. Charlotte Pearson for improving the English language of the manuscript. We acknowledge two anonymous reviewers and Senior Editor Dr. D. B. Booth for their constructive comments on the earlier version of the manuscript. The present work was supported by the Research Fund of İstanbul University , project number ÖNAP-472