Sea-level change and sedimentation of Hisarönü Gulf and effection on the ancient coastal settlement

The fluctuations of the relative sea level, tectonics and the sedimentation in the Late Pleistocene-Holocene in the Hisarönü Gulf (SE Aegean Sea) and surroundings were investigated performing high resolution acoustic survey and underwater archaeological observations. Hisarönü Gulf is affected by rising at sea level following the last glacial period (20.000 yr BP) and local tectonic movements. High resolution seismic data were interpreted to reveal the structure of the Late Pleistocene-Holocene deposits. The rate of sediment accumulation during the last glacial sea level rising was estimated which has not been studied before. We also determined the location of the paleo-shoreline of last glacial maximum and estimated the coastline progradation landward from its glacial positions.The results indicate that the internal structure of the shallow-marine sediments is comprised of transgressive and highstand deposits characterized by rapid sea level rise during the last transgression and a stabilization of sea level during the Late Holocene, respectively.Comparing with eustatic sea level curve and the submerged archaeological remains in the study area, we conclude that the relative rise in sea level for the Late Holocene is considerably a result of the tectonic subsidence of the coastal plain.This study is important in terms of lacking geological or geophysical research performed in the Hisarönü Gulf in the literature and provides the first extensive view of structure of study area.