The paper starts recalling the various stages that lead to the definition of the Early Byzantine Tectonic Paroxysm (EBTP), which was determined mainly from fossil uplifted shorelines of the Eastern Mediterranean between the middle of the 4th century and the middle of the 6th century CE. A comparison of catalogues of earthquakes may show that possibly an important event occurred in 361 CE in the northern Adriatic, i.e. near the beginning of a sequence of clustered earth movements. This event is proposed as the most likely for the coseismic subsidence of a known slightly submerged tidal notch that developed along over 200 km of the Croatian shoreline.

Beachrocks represent a significant paleo-environmental proxy because they can record both the vertical and the horizontal evolution of the shoreline. They have often been used to assess Holocene shoreline evolution and crustally induced Relative Sea-Level (RSL) changes in the Mediterranean Sea. In this paper, we used submerged beachrocks from Paros and Naxos Islands (Aegean Sea, Greece) to reconstruct the shoreline modification and provide new insights on the RSL evolution in central Cyclades. Paros and Naxos Islands are of great importance in terms of archaeological evidence of coastal occupation. However, the evolution of their coastlines was seldom explored. In this study, we coupled detailed underwater surveys, analysis of aerial photogrammetry, microstratigraphic analysis and luminescence dating to study beachrock outcrops found down to about 6 m below the present sea-level. We, then, spatially and chronologically constrained some major palaeogeographical changes of a number of coastal sectors of the two islands. Furthermore, the multiple analyses of beachrocks, sediment coring and archaeological data suggested that RSL rose by at least 3.8 m in the last 4.0 ka and that RSL variation in the last 2.0 ka did not exceed 2 m with respect to the present mean sea level.

A coastal and submarine geomorphological investigation took place in the coasts of eastern Attica, aiming to identify palaeoshorelines. Former sea-level positions were deduced from emerged and submerged tidal notches. Eight fossil shorelines were deduced in the study area; two emerged ones at about +24 ± 30 and +40 ± 30 cm, and six submerged ones at about −22 ± 30 (modern), −40 ± 30, −60 ± 30, −80 ± 30, −130 ± 30 and −460 ± 30 cm. It is worth mentioning that a rather different tectonic behavior may be distinguished between the south (AT1-AT5) and the north (AT10-AT28) part of the study area.

In this paper the tectonic behavior of Leukas and Meganisi islands (Ionian Sea) is examined through underwater research carried out in both islands. A possible Late Holocene correlation between coseismic subsidences is attempted and evidenced by submerged tidal notches in both islands. These subsidence events probably occurred after the uplift that affected the northernmost part of Leukas around 4 to 5ka BP. In conclusion, although the whole area was affected by a similar tectonic strain, certain coseismic events were only recorded in one of the two islands and in some cases they affected only part of the study area.

This research was conducted to determine the geomorphological and sedimentological characteristics of the shallow sea bottom (water depth <25 m) of Chania Bay. A detailed bathymetric survey was held from the coastline to the isobath of 25 m. Also was held an overview scanning of the sea bottom by the Side Scan Sonar to record the landforms and the structures of it. Sampling was carried out both to surface sediments and to rocky bottom, in order to study the grain size and the mineralogical composition of loose deposits, and the petrographic features of the hard substrates.The study area is the Chania Bay, which is located in the western and northern part of Crete Island and extents from the area of Kato Stalos, to the east, to the village of Kolimbari, in the west.For the integrated approach and interpretation of the results of this work, we study the effect of topography, geology and hydrology of the basin to the coastal system of Chania Bay. In addition, we investigate the wind and wave status in the region which forms the morphodynamics characteristics of the coastal zone.The ultimate purpose of this work is to link the gained knowledge with the European Union Guidelines on Integrated Coastal Zone Management and the Marine Strategy as well as the implementation of the rules on Maritime Spatial Planning. Based on this integrated maritime policy, the EU aims at the economic and social development of areas related to the marine environment in the context of its friendly use. But especially through marine spatial planning and in combination with increased knowledge of the marine environment, we are able to secure financial investment and improve the way we manage the marine and terrestrial space, while preserving the ecosystem of the area in sustainable conditions

This work focuses on the beachrocks of Paros and Naxos Islands, in central Cyclades, Aegean Sea, Greece, in an attempt to study their geochemistry and interpret their palaeoenvironmental significance. Beachrocks are coastal sedimentary formations, consisting of beach sediments that are relatively quickly cemented through the precipitation of CaCO3. However, debate still exists concerning their depositional environment, and therefore, their use as indicators for sea-level changes.In this study we focus on the beachrocks of Paros and Naxos islands, which are found at various depths. For the aim of the present study, representative bulk samples from both islands were analyzed for their mineralogical (XRD and SEM) and chemical (XRF) composition. The cement agent and the fine sand/clay fraction of the samples mainly consist of authigenic magnesian calcite, which commonly precipitates in shallow marine environments, especially in high concentration of Ca2+(>4 mol% CaCO3 or 1.2 wt.%). Furthermore, a series of clastic silicate and alumino-silicate minerals are detected. The predominant coarse fragments hosted within the cement material are quartz, plagioclase and K-feldspar.The texture of the beachrock samples varies from almost homogeneous sandstone to a mixture of lithologies, such as massive gravel, sandstone and claystone. Most of the grains are flattened and only rarely angular pieces of siliceous rocks occur, hosted in the fine-grained Mg-calcite cement. This grain size and shape is indicative of the genetic environment of beachrocks, implying the maturity level of cementation from early stage to modern situation.The beachrock samples derived from various depositional periods and depths, from the front and end slabs. The beachrocks were also correlated with stratigraphical material from boreholes and archaeological remains from the study area in an attempt to understand the coastal changes during the late Holocene in Central Cyclades.

Although there is rich evidence for human occupation of Paros’ coastline, there is a lack of data regarding the evolution of the island’s coastal palaeoenvironments. Paros Island is part of the Cyclades Islands complex, in the central Aegean Sea. It is the third largest island of the Cyclades. The Island is of great geoarchaeological significance, with the earliest evidence of occupation dating back around the 5th millennium BC, while the nearby island of Saliagos has yielded a Neolithic settlement. The studied site, Livadia, is located in the northwestern part of Paros Island, near the modern capital, Paroikia.For the purposes of this work, a multiproxy analysis was undertaken, which included sedimentological and biostratigraphic analyses of Late Holocene coastal deposits from lagoonal environment, aiming to reconstruct the evolution of coastal landscapes in Paroikia Bay (Paros Island, Greece). In order provide insights into the coastal evolution and the RSL changes of this sector of the Aegean, the dated samples of this study were compared with already published archaeological data, geomorphological sea level indicators and with the RSL curve derived from the glacio-hydro-isostatic model for the region.

Sea level indicators, such as tidal notches and beachrocks, may provide valuable information for the relative sea level (RSL) changes of an area. Although beachrocks have received various arguments regarding their accuracy as sea level indicators, they have often been used to assess Holocene shoreline changes and crustally induced RSL changes. The study area, Okinawa, belongs to the Ryukyu Islands, Japan (Pacific Ocean), forming the emerged part of an active island arc, where the Philippine Sea plate is subducting beneath the Asian continent. Various studies have noted evidence of emergence. Beachrocks have also been studied, however, detailed examinations of their spatial extend and cement characteristics has not been accomplished. In this context, the aim of this research is to discuss the RSL evolution in Okinawa through the re-evaluation of reported sea level indicators, along with additional observations on beachrocks and notches. Fieldwork was accomplished in the coastal zone of Okinawa, through detailed spatial mapping and sampling of beachrock occurrences. Coastal transects were accomplished in order to measure the width and depth/elevation of beachrock slabs. In order to perform petrographic analysis, stained thin sections were studied using transmitted light microscope where selected samples were studied under SEM.

Two well-developed quaternary sand dune fields have been identified on the western and eastern side of Akrotiri promontory (Lemesos, Cyprus, Mediterranean Sea). The fields extend immediately from the low level of their source beaches onto higher ground (> 38m amsl).  Geomorphic observation supported by OSL dating of multimineral sand horizons demonstrate several phases of sand accumulation in the western field in contrast to the smaller eastern system, where the evidence direct to a relatively recent dune emplacement. The effects of climatic change, relative sea-level change and anthropogenic influence in dune evolution, have been evaluated in both sites in combination with documented evidence of human induced destabilization of the western sand dune field during the 1970s and 1980s. Both fields share similar topographic settings and situated in close proximity but they do not share an entirely similar evolution history. The observations and the data suggest the combination of local and regional control of the development of the sand dunes and the geochronological analysis with luminescence methodology support the ability of the method to reconstruct the evolution of sand dunes fields in the south eastern Mediterranean area.

Akrotiri peninsula is located 5km W of the city of Lemesos and is the southernmost part of the island of Cyprus. Akrotiri peninsula consists of Quaternary sediments which are unconformably deposited on Miocene Pachna formation (chalks and marls). The Quaternary sediments include marine and associated aeolian deposits, alluvial fans and lagoonal and deltaic sediments.  Quaternary marine deposits occur as raised marine terraces with arenitic composition and they are located between elevations of 2-3m and 16-18m amsl. Quaternary alluvial fans were formed by material from the Kouris River, the largest river in Cyprus, and contributed to the formation of a western tombolo, resulting in a bay in antiquity. Local tectonics and eustatic changes resulted in the creation of Holocene geomorphological features, predominately, a salt lake, with an average water table of about 2 m below MSL, which is surrounded by uplifted marine terraces and lagoonal sediments. Based on geomorphologic mapping of the Quaternary landforms and associated deposits, and the morphosedimentary analysis of the geomorphological features, a chronostratigraphic framework for the Holocene evolution of the area has been generated. Textual references of Akrotiri peninsula first appear in Roman time by geographer Strabo who is describing it as a peninsula – like place. In Venetian and Ottoman maps is depicted the evolution of the area, the formation of the eastern tombolo and the usage of the closed lake as a fishery. Also, the diversion of Kouris River by Saint John’s knights west of the village of Kolossi, assisted the production of Sugar Cane and influenced the topography of the area.