Geophysical prospection,archaeological excavation,and dating in two Hellenic pyramids

Geophysical prospection employing magnetometry and electromagnetic measurements has been applied in and around two small sized pyramids of Hellenikon and Ligourio in Argolid, Greece. The magnetic anomalies appropriately assessed were interpreted as possible archaeological targets. Subsequent test excavations revealed the presence of room foundations and parts of walls, as well as a plethora of ceramic ware. Typological study of the ceramics classified them to as early as the proto-Helladic period and to as late as the first centuries A.D. The earlier periods have been also confirmed by a novel application of thermoluminescence (TL) dating of ceramics and the megalithic stones themselves. The present results question earlier attempts classifying these pyramids at the Classical period and favour much earlier periods.     

Speleothem evidence for late Holocene climate variability and floods in Southern Greece

We present stable isotope data (δ¹⁸O, δ¹³C) from a detrital rich stalagmite from Kapsia Cave, the Peloponnese, Greece. The cave is rich in archeological remains and there are reasons to believe that flooding of the cave has directly affected humans using the cave. Using a combination of U–Th and ¹⁴C dating to constrain a site-specific correction factor for (²³²Th/²³⁸U) detrital molar ratio, a linear age model was constructed. The age model shows that the stalagmite grew during the period from ca. 950 BC to ca. AD 830. The stable oxygen record from Kapsia indicates cyclical changes of close to 500 yr in precipitation amount, with rapid shifts towards wetter conditions followed by slowly developing aridity. Superimposed on this signal, wetter conditions are inferred around 850, 700, 500 and 400–100 BC, and around AD 160–300 and AD 770; and driest conditions are inferred to have occurred around 450 BC, AD 100–150 and AD 650. Detrital horizons in the stalagmite indicate that three major floods took place in the cave at 500 BC, 70 BC and AD 450. The stable carbon isotope record reflects changes in biological activity being a result of both climate and human activities.