The geological structure of Kastas hill archaeological site, Amphipolis, eastern Macedonia, Greece

This paper presents research results on the geological structure of Kastas hill in Amphipolis, as well as the broader area. They consist of geological and geomorphological observations at Kastas and 133 hills and the surrounding areas, on their geological structure, the stratigraphy and the paleoenvironment. Kastas hill is the site of the largest burial mound discovered in Greece to date. The slopes of its embankment were recorded and modelled in detail using near field photogrammetry. The problem of distinguishing between in situ geological formations and ex situ anthropogenic deposits is also addressed. The bulk volume of Kastas hill consists of natural sediments; these sediments are exposed as successive alternating beds of grayish loose and cohesive sands with scattered pebbles and locally with cobbles. Clayey beds up to ~20-30 cm thick intercalate between the sands. At the top of the hill the anthropogenic deposits are typical of Macedonian tumuli, with soil and clay alternations for sealing and stabilizing them. Paleosoil horizons were observed both in natural sediments and within anthropogenic substrates. Two horizons were sampled for dating by different methods (OSL – optical stimulated luminescence and 14C – Accelerated Mass Spectroscopy). Their dating shows the development of successive deposits during the Iron, Archaic and Classical ages. The AMS dating of a charcoal which is closely associated to the construction of the main monument yielded an age of Cal. BP 2310 = Cal. 360 BC. 

Early Miocene gastropod and ectothermic vertebrate remains from the Lesvos Petrified Forest (Greece)

The Lesvos Petrified Forest (western Lesvos, Greece) has long been famous for its plant fossils. Recently, one proboscidean (from the Gavathas locality) and seven micromammalian species (from the Lapsarna locality) were described; these were the first animals to be found in the Early Miocene subtropical forest. For the first time, a fauna of gastropods and ectothermic vertebrates from the Lapsarna locality is now available. This fauna derives from lacustrine sediments under the pyroclastic material that contains the petrified plants. Based on fragmented mollusc remains, isolated fish pharyngeal teeth and utricular otoliths (lapilli), fragmented amphibian vertebrae and a tooth-bearing element, and reptile fragmented dentaries, teeth, osteoderms and vertebrae, the presence of eight freshwater and three terrestrial gastropod species, three freshwater cyprinid species, and two amphibian and five reptile taxa has been confirmed. Stratigraphical and radiometric data suggest an age older than 18.4 ± 0.5 Ma (latest Early Miocene), in good agreement with the faunal composition. This paper is the first report of the concurrent presence of three cyprinid fish species in a Greek Early Miocene locality, as well as the first documentation of an Early Miocene proteid amphibian in southeastern Europe. The present findings represent one of the best- documented Early Miocene gastropod and fish faunas in the Aegean/southern Balkans, thus adding to our knowledge of Early Miocene amphibians and reptiles from that region and providing valuable information on the local subtropical ecosystem

A new species of Mauremys (Testudines, Geoemydidae) from the late Miocene – Pliocene of Central Macedonia (northern Greece) with exceptionally wide vertebral scutes

Our knowledge of Neogene chelonian diversity in northern Greece is increased with the present description of a new species of Mauremys (Testudines, Geoemydidae) from the late Miocene to Pliocene of three localities in central Macedonia (Gefira-2, Nea Silata, Allatini). This new species, Mauremys aristotelica sp. nov., is characterized by the presence of exceptionally wide vertebral scutes, a trait that is quite rare within Mauremys but has evolved independently in other pan-testudinoid non-testudinids. Total evidence phylogenetic analysis confirms the placement of the new species within Mauremys and reveals that its closest relative is Mauremys campanii from the late Miocene of Italy. It is also likely, under parsimony, that all geoemydids with similarly wide vertebral scutes from the Neogene of Eurasia form a clade nested within Mauremys. Our results also shed light on the evolution of geoemydids in the eastern Mediterranean during late Miocene to Pliocene times.Fil: Vlachos, Evangelos. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Museo Paleontológico Egidio Feruglio; ArgentinaFil: Sterli, Juliana. Museo Paleontológico Egidio Feruglio; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Vasileiadou, Katerina. Natural History Museum of the Lesvos Petrified Forest; GreciaFil: Syrides, George. Aristotle University; Greci

Contribution on the Holocene reconstruction of Thessaloniki Plain, North Central Greece

International audienc

New excavations in the Neogene mammalian localities of Mytilinii, Samos Island, Greece

Volume: 19Start Page: 877End Page: 88

In the Valley of Anthemous … (Northern Greece)

The Anthemous Valley Archaeological Project is a cooperation between Greek and Polish scientists aiming towards archaeological recognition of the northern Aegean within the alluvial Anthemous Valley. The methodology of the project consists of the multidisciplinary tools of settlement archaeology and geoarchaeology. The timeframe spans the prehistoric periods from the Neolithic to the Early Iron Age. One of the main research tasks is to reconstruct the evolution of the landscape in close reference to the cultural changes in the region. To date, all sites within the valley have been catalogued and identified through archaeological prospection and some with the use of geophysical survey. The results point to an intensive occupation in the past, especially during the Bronze Age. Geoarchaeological research was conducted in the tell of Nea Raedestos, which has shown major landscape transformations in the Holocene due to river activity. The current work focuses on the mouth of the Anthemous River to reconstruct the progradation processes and formation of the deltaic plain in relation to prehistoric human occupation of this area.146159Treasures of Time: Research of the Faculty of Archaeology of Adam Mickiewicz University in Pozna