This paper is an attempt to reconstruct the Holocene geomorphological evolution of the Kambos coastal - alluvial plain, situated in the southern part of the island of Samos between the ancient city of Samos (contemporary city of Pythagorio) and the temple of Hera (Heraion). The present morphology of the site area is shaped by the fluvial action of Mavratza Torrent forming an extensive alluvial fan in the northern part of the plain, while further southwards a drained freshwater marsh close to the sea exists. Heraion is located about 6km westwards of the ancient city. The habitation of the site area started approximately in the 11th century BC and has been constant to this day. Samos city enjoyed its greatest prosperity in the 6th century BC, under the leadership of the tyrant Polycrates. To reconstruct the geomorphological changes of the plain’s area, a detailed geomorphological survey in combination with stratigraphical and palaeontological techniques took place. In addition, a drilling project of two vibracores was carried out. The chronostratigraphy of the cores was determined by two C14-AMS radiocarbon datings undertaken on in situ bivalves. The evaluation of the data gives rise to the following time-scenario concerning the geomorphological evolution of the area. Long before 2700 BC, the area was covered by fluvial sediments originating from the nearby torrents to the north. Predominance of sandy fraction and a low percentage of silty-clayey material may indicate a process that removed the fine material. Absence also of coarse clastics (pebbles, cobbles) indicates restricted fluvial transportation and subsequently a low gradual relief. By ~2700 BC the area had already been flooded by sea-level rise and a shallow lagoon with a sandy bottom was formed. The lagoon continued to exist for a further ~2000 years, progressively becoming muddy; it was restricted and gradually transformed into a marsh. This marsh endured until the final decades of the previous century before it was drained. The aforementioned results strongly encourage the idea that the paved road connecting the ancient city to the temple in the 6th century BC must have been situated more inland, avoiding the coastal lagoon.

In this paper we examined whether the recorded precipitation changes cause erosion in Naxos Island, Greece using precipitation indices derived from daily precipitation totals, during the period 1955–2007, in order to develop an erosion risk model. Although the mean annual precipitation appear to be low (~360.0 mm), the erosion processes of the area are very intense, because of the intensive character of precipitation, the high slope relief, the differential lithology and the absence of important land cover The results of the analysis showed that the climatic changes in precipitation and the changes in land cover and land use are the main drivers for the erosion. This is why the 2nd (1971–1985) and 3rd (1986–2007) studied sub-periods may be called of high erosion risk, and especially the second one mainly because of the increased frequency of extreme precipitation events.

The Saint Georgios coastal zone, located at the W coast of Naxos, the largest island of the Central Aegean Sea, was investigated in order to determine the palaeo-geography, sea level changes and their effect to the palaeo-environment of western Naxos island and to human activity. Detailed geomorphological mapping, study of micropaleontological and sedimentological characteristics and dating analyses of the Late Holocene of St. Georgios coastal zone were conducted.To obtain information about the Holocene stratigraphy under the recent alluvial cover, three boreholes followed the detailed geomorphological mapping. Microfaunal analysis took place and five samples of plants, shells, peat and charred material were also collected from several layers of the sedimentary sequence and were dated using AMS and conventional radiocarbon techniques providing temporal control of the sediments. The sea-land interactions during Upper Holocene, in relation to the eustatic sea level oscillations, as well as the geomorphologic observations and analysis on deposited sediments, aims to reveal the palaeo-geographic evolution of the landscape and its impact on the archaeological sites. Sea level rise along with sea-land interactions to the landscape evolution and the transgression of sea in 6144 BP have been verified.

The palaeo relative sea-level indicators are the most important type of data as far as the Glacial Isostatic Adjustment (GIA) related to the Last Glacial Maximum is concerned. The geomorphological and archaeological indicators have recorded the long-term sea-level variation that accompanied and followed the melting of the Late Pleistocene ice sheets. This bathymetry change stems for the combined effects of the eustatic sea-level change, the gravitational interactions between the geoid and the ice sheets and the deformation of the solid Earth. Since these three factors are fully described by the sea level equation in a self-consistent manner, the comparison of relative sea-level (rsl) data and predicted Holocene curves provides fundamental constraints on the GIA models. While the rsl data from the formerly glaciated area may provide constraints on both the extent and thickness with time of the ice sheets and the local shallow Earth structure and rheology, the palaeo sea-levels from the Mediterranean Sea may constrain the volumes of melt water that has been globally released through time and also the lower mantle rheological parameters. In this work we combine archaeological and geomorphological rsl indicators with GIA-model predictions to investigate the Holocene sea level changes in Tunisia and Cyclades islands (Central Aegean). While the former area has been proven to be vertically stable on the long timescale, the Central Aegean could be affected by local tectonics that would result in vertical deformations. We therefore compare at first the available rsl data from Tunisia with GIA predictions based on a suite of available late Pleistocene ice chronologies and Earth rheological models. We find the best combination of ice and earth models to explain the rsl data from Tunisia and finally apply those to investigate the vertical stability at the Cyclades islands and to quantify the tectonics-related rates of vertical crustal deformation.

The study area of Vigla coastal zone is located at the W coast of Naxos, the largest island of Cycladic plateau. The study of sea-land interactions during Holocene in relation to the eustatic sea level oscillations as well as the geomorphologic observations and analyses on deposited sediments, aims to reveal the paleogeographic evolution of the landscape and its impact to the overall cultural development of the area. A geomorphological mapping of the coastal area along with the drilling of three boreholes has been accomplished. Moreover, a micro faunal analysis has been performed. Five samples of plant material, chart coal and shells were dated using AMS and Conventional radiocarbon techniques providing temporal control of the sediments. Sea level rise along with sea-land interactions to the landscape evolution and the transgression of sea in 5000 BP have been verified.

The study area, Mesokambos, is located at the SE coast of Samos Island situated at the east-central part of the Aegean Sea. Mesokambos is an alluvial valley situated on the outskirts of Pythagorion, a town built on top of the ancient town of Samos which is believed to be inhabitant since at least the Late Neolithic period (4th millennium BC). Archaeological evidences indicate that the present morphology is associated with recent coastal subsidence which comes in contrast with the uplift of the North West coastal area of Samos Island. For the purposes of this study detailed geomorphological mapping, paleontological, sedimentological and radiocarbon dating analyses of the Late Holocene coastal zone were conducted. The study of sea-land interactions during Upper Holocene, in relation to the eustatic sea level rise, as well as the geomorphologic observations and analyses on deposited sediments, aims to reveal the palaeogeographical evolution of the landscape. To obtain information about the Holocene stratigraphy under the recent alluvial cover, eight boreholes followed the detailed geomorphological mapping. The paleontological analysis took place and ten samples of plants, shells, peat and charred material were also collected from several layers of the sedimentary sequence and were dated using AMS radiocarbon techniques providing temporal control of the sediments. In this study the tracing of the diachronic palaeo-shoreline shift due to the sea level change and its effect to the palaeo-environment in the south-eastern part of Samos Island was attempted. Sea level changes along with local conditions have been studied and the palaeogeographical evolution of the last 6.500 has been verified.