Coastal changes and human occupation in the eastern part of Thessaloniki Bay: Geoarchaeological investigations of Toumba Gona

Abstract

The Holocene marine transgression in the Aegean Sea area has significantly impacted prehistoric societies. Toumba Gona is a tell site located at the mouth of the Anthemous River, east of Thessaloniki Bay. According to earlier research, the site should be dated at most to the late stage of the Early Bronze Age. Geoarchaeological research by means of electrical resistivity tomography, vibra‐coring, sedimentological analysis, and radiocarbon dating shows, however, that the direct proximity of the site witnessed the maximum marine transgression around 3000–2500 BC and the human habitation phase before the 3rd millennium BC, before the transgression. The coastline began to recede due to the delta progradation, which resulted in the formation of extensive marshes to the south of the Toumba. The increased fluvial activity since the end of the 4th millennium BC is relatable with the progradation of the Anthemous River's bay head delta. Human occupation was recorded before and after the marine transgression thus suggesting human persistence in the coastline environment.