The cosmogenic 36Cl exposure ages in this study provide the first direct chronology of landscape evolution and ground deformation in the Ionian Islands, with a focus on the Thinia Valley and the anticline near Zola in northern Kefalonia, western Greece. At the primary Zola site, cosmogenic 36Cl exposure ages indicate persistent deformation on the eastern limb of the anticline from the Middle Quaternary to historical times. This broad range, spanning both ancient and recent ages, suggests that the anticline has experienced multiple deformation events rather than a single episode. Older ages correspond to a Middle Pleistocene phase of exhumation, while younger ages suggest additional mass-wasting events influenced by climatic and tectonic factors. At the secondary site, southeast of the previous site, ages indicate a steady-state surface where erosion and decay balance cosmogenic 36Cl production, implying a true age beyond the dating range and leaving the slope’s origin indeterminate. Nonetheless, recent tectonic activity on a fault cutting through this surface suggests an actively evolving tectonic landscape continuing into the Holocene.

This pilot study explores the suitability of thermoluminescence (TL) of quartzites from exhumed metamorphic rocks of the Peloponnese (Greece) for thermometry and thermochronometry. Specifically, four quartz samples with very low radioelement content were extracted from large quartz lumps exposed at the surface of extensive quartzite rocks that make up the metamoprhic core of the central and southern Peloponnese The samples were submitted to a series of experiments and methods of analysis involving the sensitization of the 110 degree celsius TL peak, fractional glow (via initial rise), TL -signal deconvolution, and characterization of signal response to large doses. The sensitization of the 110 C TL trap was used to monitor the peak metamoprhic temperature of the quartzites. This is a novelty employed for the first time in this work. The sensitization of the 110 C TL trap points to peak metamorphic temperatures which seem to be in agreement with independent thermometric data specific to these rocks. TL deconvolution analysis returned at least three traps which exhibit variable geological stabilities (lifetimes) but high saturation levels. Our studies demonstrate that TL from these rocks has the potential to be used for both thermometry and thermochronometry. Nevertheless, the very low dose rates associated with these quartzes qualify the here estimated equivalent doses for the estimation of maximum cooling ages only at this stage.

AbstractThe scientific study of Neolithic monuments holds fundamental keys to the analysis of early social complexity. This is often impeded by the challenges involved in understanding their temporality and, particularly, their initial construction dates. This problem is most severe in monuments that were not predominantly used for burial and went on to have long biographies in which activity in later periods obliterated the material record of the earliest phases. That was certainly the case of the Menga dolmen, part of the Antequera World Heritage site (Málaga, Spain), and one of the most remarkable megaliths in Europe, for which, after nearly 200 years of explorations and research, no firm chronology existed. The research presented in this paper shows how this problem was tackled through a multimethod, scientific, and geoarchaeological approach. The analysis of 29 fresh numerical ages, including radiocarbon determinations as well as optically stimulated luminescence, thermoluminescence, and uranium-thorium dates, led to the successful establishment of Menga's construction date and the subsequent contextualization of the monument within the social and cultural background it arose in. Placing the dolmen in the context of its time of “birth” introduces entirely new possibilities for its interpretation, both in terms of local and supralocal social and cultural processes.

Tepe Sialk of Kashan in the north central Iranian Plateau, is acknowledged as one of the five most important archaeological sites in Iran. It consists of two prominent mounds, Sialk North and Sialk South with cultural layers spanning from the beginning of the 6th millennium BCE until the Achaemenid period. Sialk South is crowned by a massive, ziggurat-like, mudbrick platform as one of the major phenomena of the Iron Age of Iran. Considering that Sialk South lacks the plentiful of ages formerly generated for Sialk North, the application of optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) dating was considered necessary to revise the later occupation of Sialk. This project generated a chronological framework for the construction of Sialk South and focus on the Massive/large mudbrick platform by dating through OSL. Our results ranged from the Early Chalcolithic period to the Iron Age period of Sialk South. The existence of layers related to Iron Age right underneath the mudbrick platform at Sialk South attracts great interest and seems that Tepe Sialk could be a key-location in deciphering the chronology of the advancement of the Achaemenid Empire in the central Iran.

Here, we report preliminary results from thermoluminescence (TL) measurements on metamorphic quartz from the SE Peloponnese, Greece, and we discuss its potential for thermometric and, possibly, thermochronometric applications over longer geological periods. Extensive high pressure/low temperature (HP/LT) schists associated with a 24 Ma metamorphic age, and with cooling ages ranging between 6-14 Ma (based on fission-track and (U-Th)/He thermochronometry), encompass sizable quartzite outcrops associated with substantially low radiation (U, Th, K concentrations below the analytical detection limits), allowing TL signal to grow on longer geological timescales. Although deeper TL traps (>360°C) appeared saturated as expected, geologically stable traps lying between around 360°C were found to be far from saturation. Once higher analytical resolution is achieved in the determination of the radioelement concentrations the recovered equivalent doses will be combined with the respective dose rates to explore the suitability of TL from quartz for longer-range thermochronometry in extremely low-radiation geological environments.

Speleothems are useful in detecting past geoenvironmental events. Variations in trace element concentrations may constitute a diagnostic of volcanic eruptions, enabling both dating and environmental impact assessment. This work attempts to detect possible 'signatures' of past volcanic eruptions in speleothems from Zoodochos Pigi cave on Santorini. Higher-than-usual concentrations of elements and minerals (e.g. barium and monazite respectively) exotic to typical speleothem chemistry in a band within a flowstone retrieved from the cave were revealed through SEM-EDS and XRD analyses and thought to be of volcanic origin. By chance, charcoal trapped in the said speleothem band allowed dating to establish the timing of the volcanic event. The radiocarbon date pointed towards the historically documented Hiera eruption, the earliest of a series of volcanic eruptions that postdate the Minoan eruption. The Hiera eruption, although less violent than the Minoan eruption, signallised the recrudescence of intracaldera activity which culminated in the formation of Palea Kameni (197 BC) with palpable effects on the regional environment. The interpretation of the results presented here, i.e. geochemical analysis on speleothems and radiocarbon dating, are cross-correlated with the well-documented timeline of eruptions of Santorini and ancient literature.

This study presents new thermochronometric data to constrain the cooling history of the Pindos fold‐and‐thrust‐belt (PFTB) on the NW Peloponnese, and the timing of nappe stacking in the external Hellenides in western Greece. Low‐temperature thermochronology was performed on apatite and zircon minerals extracted from basal exposures of the PFBT in Mt. Erymanthos (NW Peloponnese) using the (U‐Th)/He system. Three bedrock samples collected from a profile across the strike of the PFBT returned thermochronometric ages for the apatite (AHe) between 15 and 9 Ma, while for the zircon (ZHe) the ages are interpreted as unreset (or partially reset). The AHe ages are interpreted as cooling ages related to the Cenozoic geodynamic evolution of the PFTB. Thermal models generated in this research demonstrate two phases of geodynamic evolution of the PFBT during the Cenozoic: an early one associated with the heating of the fold‐and‐thrust belt during 40–20 Ma and a later one associated with fast cooling from 20 Ma onwards. Heating is attributed to the structural thickening of the PFTB while cooling is associated with enhanced uplift and exhumation, which became widespread in Erymanthos by 9 Ma. The initiation of cooling on Mt. Erymanthos echoes the substantial geometric remodelling that underwent the Hellenic arc during the Middle Miocene, associated with slab rollback and arc extension, and is connected to the underplating of the internal segments of the external platform (Gavrovo‐Tripolis unit) by the external metamorphic segments (Mani and Arna units). The current inverse thermal modelling offers the first continuous description of the geodynamic evolution of the most prominent fold‐and‐thrust belt of the Hellenides, from the oceanic stage through basin inversion to uplift and orogen decay.

This article reviews the suitability of muography in identifying geological hazards in the southern Aegean active volcanic arc (SAAVA). Santorini and Nisyros, the most active members of SAAVA, exhibit critical structural failures which are controlled by the regional tectonic stress field. Comparable structural failures in other volcanic complexes (e.g. Canary Islands, Hawaii, Stromboli, etc.) are linked to high geological risk. However, the amount of hazard stemming from potential rupture of volcanoes in the Aegean Sea has not been fully assessed yet, because the volcanoes’ intricate structure challenges both conventional geological and geophysical mapping. On the other hand, muography constitutes a novel remote sensing technique which exploits the penetration of the cosmic rays in the upper solid earth to produce images of the upper solid earth at high spatial resolution. Here, the performance of muography in identifying geological hazards in the SAAVA is evaluated on the basis of available geological information and similar case studies with satisfactory results.

Here we present a Monte Carlo simulation of a muographic campaign on Methana volcano, Greece. In order to estimate the absorption parameters and the pattern of muon scattering at various incident energies (GeV to TeV), a radar-derived digital terrain model (DTM) was submitted to irradiation by horizontal muons in Geant4 and the penetrating muons were collected by a hypothetical MicroMegas particle detector on the other side of the DTM. Monte Carlo simulation demonstrated that muon energies at least as high as 10 TeV are required for whole-scale radiography of Methana and one has to reduce the scale of study to smaller structures (e.g. ~ 600 m - wide volcanic domes) in order to exploit the more affluent lower energy muons (~ 600 GeV). Coulomb scattering, on the other hand, brings about deflection of muon trajectories away from the detector, resulting in loss of information. Additionally, scattering adds Gaussian blurring to the scanned objects. With the intention of improving contrast and extract objects in muographic image we recommend the use of spatial operators (filters) employed in image analysis.

Pyroclastic deposits on Anafi Island, Cyclades, Greece, were initially related to the Minoan eruption (1613 BC), but later geochemical studies favored an older chronology that points at the Lower Pumice eruption of Santorini (172 ka). Here we attempt through OSL dating to provide a minimum age by dating sand-sized quartz from colluvium overlying the deposits. The chronological results excluded the possibility of being Minoan.

This study is a step forward in understanding the palaeoenvironmental effects of the Minoan eruption of Santorini (1627-1600 BCE). We employ geostatistics to produce a prediction map for the thickness of the tephra fallout over the Eastern Mediterranean, and we reconstruct the effects by comparisons with recent eruption analogues. Based on the geostatistical map, the amount of environmental disruption over so far undocumented areas is estimated by comparison with archaeological sites where emplaced Minoan tephra has been recorded before. Nevertheless, independent field evidence suggest that the environment responded differently in places, occasionally posing challenges to the presented interpolation. A second line of evidence coming from contemporaneous fluvial archives provides clues for a widespread 'Minoan flood' over a large part of the Eastern Mediterranean, associated with the eruption itself. This simultaneous hydrological event may have had a counterbalancing effect on the impacts of the Minoan tephra cover, and could explain the sporadic discrepancies between the predicted effects and the palaeoenvironmental evidence. Traces of the effects of this extraordinary volcanic event are also sought in the regional Late Bronze Age literature.

This study deals with the analysis of the glacial processes that have affected the relief of Mt Chelmos in northern Peloponnesus, Greece during middle and Late Pleistocene. The goal was to compile a combined geomorphological-geological map of the study area which would enable the chronological stratification of the glacial landforms cropping up on Mt. Chelmos. Chronological stratification was further aided by optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) dating. The map served as the basis upon which the reconstruction and discussion on the phases of the Middle-Late Quaternary paleoclimatic history of Mt. Chelmos have been made. A sophisticated semiautomated method was first used to analyze the Digital Elevation Model (DEM), combined with Aster, Quickbird and ALOS imagery in order to identify glacial and periglacial, as well as karstic features. Then, these features along with other nonrecognizable features from the remote-sensing images were documented in the field. In this way, several glacial landforms were identified, such as moraines and cirques, indicating extended glaciation phases during the middle and Late Pleistocene. Additionally, a ground moraine located at an altitude of 1900-2050 m, within the Spanolakos glacial valley, was dated using the OSL-dating method. The resulting ages indicate a phase of glacier advance/stabilization during MIS-5b (89-86 ka), which is in consistence with pollenrecord evidence from Greece and the Mediterranean.

The disastrous volcanic eruption of Thera in the Aegean that happened in late seventeenth century BC (Late Bronce Age, LBA) buried under a thick mantle of volcanic ash the thriving city harbor of Akrotiri, situated at the southern edge of the island. The archaeological excavations at the site have witnessed the city's wealth and flourish; numerous, luxurious, and outlandish finds clearly indicate well-established maritime contacts between Akrotiri and eastern Mediterranean lands. Such maritime operations and overseas trade required, apparently, adequate harbor facilities. This paper deals with geoarchaeological and geophysical studies aiming at the localization of the buried harbor, a so far unrealized ambitious aim, in spite of the repeated intense attempts undertaken in the last decades. Preference for the relevant investigation was given to three small littoral valleys situated in small distances at both sides of the settlement, suggesting shallow bays before the Minoan eruption, hence probably having hosted the searched harbor(s). Prior to the fieldwork undertaken, all available geological and other related data were cartographically outlaid by means of GIS. Afterwards, in situ geomorphologic studies were conducted, followed by one littoral drilling and geophysical investigations including seismic refraction and electrical resistivity tomography (ERT). Both geophysics and drilling have shown that the hard pre-Minoan basement (consisting of dense andesitic lavas) is situated at depths of ca. 25 m in the Mavrorachidi valley. According to the seismic results, the recent shape of Potamos valley today seems to be similar to as during the Minoan times. Due to the relative minor infillings of the valley and the position of the valley floor above the recent sea level, there's no evidence of a former bay or harbor in that area. Moreover, the seismic data revealed that the Minoan surface (Cape Riva ignimbrite) seems to rise from the archaeological site of Akrotiri to the coastline in the southeast of the excavation up to 30 m a. s. l. Maybe there existed a former cliff that was covered by Minoan tephra but that also provided shelter for the village of Akrotiri. The investigated area south of the archaeological site offers a more appropriate site for the Minoan harbor. Future geoarchaeological investigations (drillings, geophysics) should concentrate both on the latter area and on Mavrorachidi valley (one of the three valleys mentioned before). This study presents preliminary results from our ongoing research. It is anticipated that the synthesis of the available data along with the expected results from the remainder geophysical investigation, subsurface coring, chronometric dating, and submarine beach-rock studies will allow to determine the most probable harbor position(s) of Akrotiri.

Measurement of in situ-produced Be-10 concentrations at a prehistoric open cast (i.e. aerially exposed) copper mine on Kythnos island, Aegean, Greece, dated to similar to 5 ka, led to overestimated cosmic ray exposure ages. This strongly suggests that the prehistoric mining activity was too shallow to reach nuclide-free levels in the rock. Considering the independently estimated age of the open cast mine, the Be-10 concentrations measured in the sampled rock surface of the mine are further exploited to estimate the thickness of the excavation. The results obtained point at excavation depths no more than a few decimeters, agreeing with independent archaeological evidence.

This article reviews optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) dating as used on Quaternary sediments and for archaeological dating. The underlying physics is summarized and the laboratory method itself is described. Examples of OSL dating illustrate its use in palaeoenvironmental and archaeological contexts, although problems associated with the technique are also addressed. Finally, we discuss long-range variants of OSL that may help date deposits currently considered too old for OSL to be applied.

Optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) dating has provided the first absolute dates for the prehistoric stone arrangements known as wheels', found in Jordan's Black Desert region. These sub-circular enclosures are one form of a series of enigmatic structures known as works of the old men'. Over 1000 wheels' have been identified in the basalt fields of eastern Jordan and Syria, but their original purpose is unclear. They are divided into irregular sections, and often contain a number of burial cairns. OSL analysis has been carried out on samples from two wheels in the Wisad region: one dated broadly to the Late Neolithic period, and the second to the Late Chalcolithic-Early Bronze Age transition.

Cosmic ray exposure (CRE) dating was performed on the caldera cliffs of Santorini with the aim of detecting cliff segments predating the Minoan eruption (17th century BCE). The methodology involved the determination of in situ-produced cosmogenic 36 Cl concentration in basaltic-to-rhyodacitic whole rocks cropping out in the cliffs. After the samples were processed following the chemical protocol of 36 Cl preparation for silicate rocks, 36 Cl concentrations were measured by accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS). Important challenges during the implementation procedure were related to large amounts of radiogenic 36 Cl, complex modeling of inherited 36 Cl, and dominance of the thermal and epithermal (low-energy) neutron capture production pathway. Nevertheless, quantitative assessments on the basis of the contribution of the low-energy neutron capture pathway percent to the total production rate validated the calculated CRE dates. Current CRE ages demonstrate that an ancient caldera existed on pre-Minoan Santorini, occupying at least the northern half of the modern-day caldera.

Quaternary stratigraphy and sea level changes have been extensively investigated in many areas of the Mediterranean. However, numerical dating of coastal deposits and the associated paleoenvironmental information are limited for the coasts of Cyprus, principally based on radiometric and radiation-exposure geochronological techniques on fossils which bear a range of limitations and uncertainties. As such, optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) dating techniques are deemed to be the most suitable in direct dating of the coastal sediments of Cyprus. In the southeastern Cyprus, coastal dunes (aeolianites) now forming elongated ridges appear as morphological features running parallel to the current shoreline presenting an indicator of sea level and climate changes of great paleoenvironmental significance. We present our first chronological results for the exposed aeolianites and underlying littoral deposits formed along the southeastern coastal Cyprus ranging from 78.4 ± 9.9 to 56.2 ± 7.4 ka. The post-infrared–infrared stimulated luminescence (pIR-IRSL) revealed that dune formation took place during the marine isotope stages (MISs) 3, 4, and possibly 5a. Late Holocene reworking is proposed for a distinctively isolated dune with an age of ~1.3 ka ago. This study also showed that pIR-IRSL dating of feldspars may be a reliable alternative to quartz OSL dating when the quartz luminescence characteristics are unsuitable.

Rodafnidia is an Acheulian site on Lesbos Island, in the north-east Aegean Sea. This chapter presents the model that guided Paleolithic investigations on the island, the history of research, and the results of the 2012 expedition of systematic work in the field, which consisted of surface survey and excavation. The typology and technology of lithic artifacts from the surface and the uppermost Unit 1, as well as the first cluster of luminescence dates, firmly place the early component of the site in the Middle Pleistocene. The Acheulian industry derives from fluvio-lacustrine deposits at a locale with abundant fresh-water and lithic resources. Situated in the north-east Mediterranean Basin, an area where research on early hominin prehistory is intensifying, Rodafnidia holds the potential to contribute to Eurasian Lower Paleolithic archaeology and fill the gap in our understanding of early hominin presence and activity where Asia meets Europe.