Palaeogeography of the Sarmatian of Eastern Georgia

5th International Conference "Environmental Micropalaeontology, Microbiology and Meiobenthology", 2008

2012

Two Bronze Age human settlements of the Western Karthaliny Basin (Transcaucasia region, Georgia) were studied using a multidisciplinary approach. Satellite data (Corona, Landsat) and aerial images, as well as new archaeological data and a detailed field survey were applied to the study of the hydrographic evolution of the Kura (Mtkvari) River and of its tributaries; its influence on the archaeological sites scattered between the villages of Natsargora and Agara was also examined. Finally, four stratigraphic profiles were analysed; these are situated along the Kura river and on its tributaries flowing from the Greater Caucasus: the Western and the Eastern Prone.

2011

Furlani S. et al., Integrating archaeological and geomorphological data to evaluate the late-Holocene behaviour of the Kartalini Basin (Georgia). (IT ISSN 0349-3356, 2011) A multidisciplinary approach has been used to evaluate the Late-Holocene modifications of the Kartalini basin (Georgia). Data from satellite images (Corona, Landsat, Russian aerial images, etc) and field surveying allowed to reconstruct the neotectonics in the area of Aradetis Orgora archaeological site. RIASSUNTO: Furlani S. et al., Comparazione di dati archeologici e geomorfologici per la valutazione del comportamento del bacino di Kartalini (Georgia) dal tardo-Olocene. (IT ISSN 0349-3356, 2011) Per studiare le modificazioni tardo Oloceniche del bacino di Kartalini (Georgia) è stato utilizzato un approccio multidisciplinare. I dati provenienti dale immagini satellitari (Corona, Landsat, foto aeree russe, ecc) e I rilievi di campagna hanno permesso di ricostruire l’evoluzione neotettonica nell’area del sito arche...

2020

Two Bronze Age human settlements of the Western Karthaliny Basin (Transcaucasia region, Georgia) were studied using a multidisciplinary approach. Satellite data (Corona, Landsat) and aerial images, as well as new archaeological data and a detailed field survey were applied to the study of the hydrographic evolution of the Kura (Mtkvari) River and of its tributaries; its influence on the archaeological sites scattered between the villages of Natsargora and Agara was also examined. Finally, four stratigraphic profiles were analysed; these are situated along the Kura river and on its tributaries flowing from the Greater Caucasus: the Western and the Eastern Prone.

Late-Holocene tectonic behaviour of the Karthalini basin (Georgia) has been inferred from archaeological, sedimentological and geomorphological data. The study area is located in the Shida Kartli Region, a hundred kilometres West from Tbilisi. The Mtkvari (Kura) river crossed the area following a NNW-SSE direction while the Liakhvi river represents an important tributary which flows into the Kura, near Gori. Analysis has been carried out both using satellite images (Corona, Landsat, Russian aerial images, etc) and field surveying. The multidisciplinary method can help to reconstruct the neotectonic behaviour of meandering rivers. This study aims at studying the diversions of meandering rivers and reconstructing the tectonic and geomorphological behaviour of the area in the late-Holocene. The Aradetis Orgor-Dedopolis Gora Gudaberta is located on an man-made hill in corresponce of a fluvial terrace, located at about 15 meters above the recent altitude of the Kura river. The site is located at the edge of the terrace. Radiocarbon dating of a wood (4375+-40 BP) correspond to the Bronze-age datation of the ceramics. An alluvial deposit overflows this archaeological level and it is in turn overflown by Roman-age levels. The last is about at the top of the hill, at about 15 m from the Kura river. The estimated total erosion, probably due to the uplift of the area, is about 34 mm/year, therefore 15 m in 4000 years.

2019

This paper discusses the results of the first testing of the sediments on pollen content from the Chachuna fossil vertebrate site, Chachuna-2 section, the Upper Sarmatian s.l./Khersonian deposits. Palynological analysis showed that the pollen and spore composition varied in the marine and continental lithofacial units of the section. Mainly subtropical and warm-temperate plants (trees and ferns) were found in the samples from the lower, shallow marine part. Impoverishment of the subtropical hygrophilous plants, decrease of forest elements, and the expansion of herbaceous associations were observed in the upper, continental deposits of the Eldari Formation. Such change in pollen composition might be related with the regression of Kura Bay – a westward extension of the South Caspian Basin of the Eastern Paratethys, as well as with the general trend of aridification during the Late Miocene. However, we refrain from drawing far-going conclusions due to scarcity of data at this stage of ...

Catena, in press, DOI: 10.1016/j.catena.2014.06.019 , 2014

In order to obtain information about landscape activity and stability during the Late Quaternary in the Transcaucasian region, fluvial sediments of the lower Algeti River in SE-Georgia were studied by means of geomorphologic, sedimentologic and geochronologic methods. These investigations show that sediments aggraded by the Late Pleistocene braided Algeti River were strongly incised around the Pleistocene/Holocene transition, and subsequently a small-scale pattern of diachronous fluvial terraces deposited by the now meandering river developed in the new valley during the Holocene. Prior to ca. 3 cal. ka BP, active phases of river channel aggradation and overbank sedimentation about 6 cal. ka BP and 3.4–3.2 cal. ka BP can be linked with climate-driven vegetation changes, i.e. stronger fluvial dynamics with sedimentation occurred during more arid and colder periods whereas the Caucasian Holocene climate optimum between 6 and 3.4 cal. ka BP was characterized by stable geomorphologic conditions. After 3 cal. ka BP, strongly increased human impact documented by former pollen studies is reflected by the fluvial dynamics as well, i.e. an activity phase of strong overbank sedimentation 2.7– 2.1 cal. ka BP occurred during a period when forests in the Lesser Caucasus were burnt down. Two subsequent activity phases with fluvial sedimentation can be linked with historic events that probably both influenced vegetation distribution of the region, i.e. a period of flourishing of Georgia during the Middle Age and a time of large scale destruction of the country due to a Persian invasion at the end of the 18th century AD, respectively. Thus, whereas no influence of tectonic events or fluctuations of the Caspian Sea level on the fluvial dynamics could be detected, SE-Georgia shows its fragile character with respect to climate- and human driven vegetation-changes similar to other semi-arid landscapes of the Mediterranean region.

Since the Plio-Pleistocene, southward migration of shortening in the eastern part of the Greater Caucasus (GC) into the Kura foreland basin has progressively formed the Kura-Fold Thrust belt (KFTB) and Alazani piggyback basin, which separates the KFTB from the GC. Previous work argued for an eastward propagation of the KFTB, implying that the western portion in Georgia is the oldest, but this hypothesis was based on coarse geologic maps and speculative ages for units within the KFTB. Here we investigate this hypothesis and focus on the Gombori Range (GR), which defines NW edge of the belt. Previous work divided the sediments of northern flank of the range into three facies. The rock types in the older and middle facies suggest a GC source provenance, despite the modern drainage network in the NE GR, which is dominated by NE flowing rivers.Paleocurrent analyses of the alluvial conglomerates of the oldest and youngest syntectonic units indicate a switch from dominantly SW directed pal...

Quaternary International, 2017

The Kolkheti lowlands (Colchis, Colchian plain) form the central part of the extensive coastal lowlands along the Black Sea coast of Georgia. Situated between the Greater and the Lesser Caucasus, favourable climatic conditions resulted in a constant human occupation of the region during the Holocene. However, due to continued deltaic sedimentation and alluviation of the river Rioni, the configuration and the environmental conditions of the coast and its hinterland have changed considerably; this was related to sea-level fluctuations of the Black Sea and variation of the sediment supply. This study presents new data on the Holocene coastal evolution of Western Georgia. Based on the geochemical and sedimentological analysis of sediment cores and trenches from the northern part of the Kolkheti lowlands, between the Black Sea and the rivers Rioni and Khobistsqali, and a robust chronology (14 C and IRSL dating), our goals are (i) to document the chronostratigraphy along two coring transects; (ii) to decipher geographical and environmental changes along Georgia's Black Sea coast; and (iii) to trace the sea-level evolution of the study area. Based on the succession of eight facies, representing different depositional environments, our results suggest that significant environmental changes took place throughout the last eight millennia. At least since 5000 cal BC, the sedimentary record indicates the widespread existence of shallow lagoons. Floodplain-related finegrained alluvium accumulated on top of the lagoonal stratum. The progradation of the delta plain between 3500 and 1500 cal BC was accompanied by the evolution of extensive swamps with peat formation. The data indicate a gradual and moderate sea-level rise since ~6000 BC. Ultimately, this and follow-up studies may provide a valuable background for the understanding of the palaeogeographical context of ancient settlements in the area.