Geoscience Reference
In-Depth Information
Chapter 15
Settlement Development in the Shadow
of Coastal Changes - Case Studies
from the Baltic Rim
Hauke Jöns
Abstract
The maritime zone of the Baltic basin, in all the phases of its settlement
history, was of special importance to the people living there. Only there did they
have access to marine resources and to the transportation and communication routes.
The Baltic shore was therefore utilized, occupied, settled and even modified by
humans, despite the unstable environmental conditions due to the isostatic rebound
and the eustatic rise in sea level, which made it necessary to constantly adapt to a
changing environment. Changes in sea level and the shoreline are generally investi-
gated by the earth sciences. The resulting data form the base for the calculation of
sea-level curves and shore-displacement models. Especially in areas with high rates
of shore displacement, the data and models can then be used to reconstruct environ-
mental conditions and to date prehistoric coastal sites. Conversely, well-excavated
and dated archaeological sites that were originally located on the shore can provide
detailed information about the sea level at the time of their occupation and can be
used as sea-level index points. In this chapter, the opportunities and problems arising
from the use of shore-displacement models for the interpretation of archaeological
sites are discussed, as is the utilization of data extracted from archaeological investi-
gations. Both models and sites are introduced in case studies that represent not only
the different areas and localities but also the different stages in the development of
the Baltic Sea.
Keywords
Archaeology
·
Settlement
development
·
Baltic
Sea
·
Sea
level
index-point
·
Shore displacement
·
Coastal changes
·
Seafaring
15.1 Introduction
The settlement of the Baltic Sea area started a few centuries after the end of the
last glaciation 15,000 years ago and has continued without any notable interruption
until today. Our knowledge of the development of settlement in this area is almost
