The Holocene sea level story since 7500 BP – Lessons from the Eastern Mediterranean, the Black and the Azov Seas

This paper addresses the obvious controversy between the so far published sea level curves of the Black Sea and the Mediterranean. It starts with a discussion of the methods of reconstructing sea level curves, the evaluation of sea level indicators, and the application of the radiocarbon dating method. At least since 7500 BP, when the Black Sea and the Mediterranean were connected, both water bodies must have reacted synchronously on glacio-eustatic changes. It is documented that none of the Mediterranean sea level curves shows the major wiggles postulated for the Black Sea which are supposed to reflect trans- and regression cycles. The very shallow bathymetric condition of the Azov Sea and the northern Black Sea should have led to considerable and traceable shoreline displacements. There is neither archaeological nor historical evidence of mid- and late-Holocene regressions of several meters. The tectonic setting of the Black and Azov seas implicates that the tectonic signal often overrides the eustatic one. Therefore, only local sea level curves can be established. In this paper, based on vibracores, a locally valid sea level curve for the Taman Peninsula is demonstrated. Layers of paralic peat were used as sea level indicators and for 14C dating. The shape of this curve follows the one known from the Mediterranean. This study also revealed that the present peninsula of Taman evolved out of a former archipelago.