Archaeological and geomorphological indicators of the historical sea level changes and the related palaeogeographical reconstruction of the ancient foreharbour of Lechaion, East Corinth Gulf (Greece)

Study of the architectural, morphological and constructional features of the coastal harbour installations of the ancient foreharbour of Lechaion indicates that they were built or rebuilt during the period of the Roman domination of Corinth, and has facilitated the reconstruction of the vertical movements and the palaeogeography of the coast. On the basis of the current position of the sea level indicators including beachrocks, fossilized uplifted and submerged marine notches, and ancient coastal harbour installations, and the relationship between them, the sea level during the Roman operation of the harbour was determined to be 0.90 m lower than at present. Furthermore, the subsequent abandonment of the harbour and the siltation of its constructions were determined. During two successive tectonic subsidence co-seismic events, the sea level rose by 2.0 m in total, 1.60 m during the first event and 0.40 m during the second one. A strong uplift tectonic event followed and the sea level dropped by 1.10 m. This regression of the sea was responsible for the present shoreline morphology. Determination of the sea level fluctuation at the shore of the ancient harbour of Lechaion allowed the palaeogeographical reconstruction of the coast in different stages related to these changes.