In search of Pollentia's southern harbour: Geoarchaeological evidence from the Bay of Alcúdia (Mallorca, Spain)

Matthieu Giaime, Christophe Morhange, Miguel Ángel Cau Ontiveros, Joan J. Fornós, Matteo Vacchi, Nick Marriner

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

The Roman city of Pollentia was founded on the north-eastern coast of Mallorca (Balearic archipelago) after the Roman conquest of the island in 123 BCE. There is evidence that the city had two harbours, a small harbour located to the north, whereas the main harbour was located to the south of Pollentia. Our study focuses on the southern harbour, on a coastal plain in proximity to the ancient city. Four sedimentary cores were taken and bio-sedimentological analysis was performed. Here, we describe the palaeogeographical changes in this area, evolving from an open lagoon environment between ca. 3200 and ca. 500 cal. years BCE to a semi-enclosed lagoon during Roman times. Progressively, the lagoon became silted and was isolated from the sea by the development of a large sand spit, probably during the second half of the first millennium CE. We also discuss the water depth, linked to the palaeosea level, which is important in defining the possible ancient harbour location.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)184-201
Number of pages18
JournalPalaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology
Volume466
DOIs
StatePublished - 15 Jan 2017
Externally publishedYes

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2016

Keywords

  • Ancient harbour
  • Balearic Archipelago
  • Dredging
  • Geoarchaeology
  • Holocene
  • Lagoonal harbour
  • Mallorca
  • Mediterranean
  • Palaeogeography
  • Pollentia
  • Sea-level

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Oceanography
  • Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics
  • Earth-Surface Processes
  • Paleontology

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'In search of Pollentia's southern harbour: Geoarchaeological evidence from the Bay of Alcúdia (Mallorca, Spain)'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this