HR: 0800h
AN: PP21C-1591    [Abstracts]
TI: Early Human Activity (pre-332 BC) in Alexandria, Egypt: New findings in Eastern Harbor Cores
AU: Stanley, J
EM: Stanley.Daniel@nmnh.si.edu
AF: Geoarcheology Group, Department of Paleobiology, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC 20013 United States
AU: * Landau, E A
EM: elandau@rohan.sdsu.edu
AF: Geoarcheology Group, Department of Paleobiology, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC 20013 United States
AU: * Landau, E A
EM: elandau@rohan.sdsu.edu
AF: now at Department of Geological Sciences, San Diego State University, 5500 Campanile Drive, San Diego, CA 92182 United States
AB: Historians have long postulated that a settlement called Rhakotis was present on Egypt's Mediterranean coast in the area subsequently occupied by the city of Alexandria. To date, however, the precise position of that site has not been located in the immediate area of the city founded by Alexander the Great. Also undefined are the earliest phases of occupation that pre-date Alexandria on Pharos Island and in the harbour area. A geoarchaeological project emphasizing sediment cores in Alexandria's Eastern Harbour now provides evidence of human occupation adjacent to these settings prior to establishment of Greece's great port in 332 BC. A radiocarbon-dated stratigraphic unit, defined as Middle Sand (III) and older than the 4th century BC, includes locally produced ceramics, along with rock fragments of non-local origin, and increased content of sand-sized heavy mineral and organic matter. Together, these date at least to Egypt's Late Dynastic Period (712-332 BC). Moreover, the geographic positions of core sites containing these markers indicate that early habitation occurred both at Pharos Island and on the mainland where the future Alexandria would be built. New findings in cores recovered in this marine environment are adding to knowledge of both natural processes and effects of human activity in early Alexandria.
DE: 0442 Estuarine and nearshore processes (4235)
DE: 1834 Human impacts
DE: 3022 Marine sediments: processes and transport
DE: 9305 Africa
SC: Paleoceanography and Paleoclimatology [PP]
MN: Fall Meeting 2005