Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/25834
Title: Holocene sea level change in Malta
Authors: Furlani, Stefano
Antonioli, Fabrizio
Biolchi, Sara
Gambin, Timmy
Gauci, Ritienne
Presti, Valeria Lo
Anzidei, Marco
Devoto, Stefano
Palombo, Mariarita
Sulli, Attilio
Keywords: Climatic changes -- Malta
Sea level -- Malta
Paleoecology -- Malta
Palynology -- Malta
Issue Date: 2013
Publisher: Pergamon Press
Citation: Furlani, S., Antonioli, F., Biolchi, S., Gambin, T., Gauci, R., Presti, V. L., ... & Sulli, A. (2013). Holocene sea level change in Malta. Quaternary International, 288, 146-157.
Abstract: A multidisciplinary approach has been applied to study sea level changes along the coast of Malta using data collected from underwater archaeological remains. The elevation of archaeological markers have been compared with predicted sea level curves providing new bodies of evidence that outline the vertical tectonic behaviour of this region, allowing estimation of the relative sea level changes that occurred in this area of the Mediterranean since the Bronze Age. During the Roman Age, sea level was at −1.36 ± 0.1 m, while in the Midde Age it was at −0.56 ± 0.2 m, in agreement with previous estimations for the Mediterranean region. Data indicate that Malta was tectonically stable during the studied period. The occurrence of the present-day notch along the coasts of the island indicates recent vertical stability of the area. The lack of MIS 5.5 deposits all over the island could simply be due to high rates of erosion, as its coasts are highly exposed to storm waves, rather than tectonic movements. However, even very slight vertical movements could completely remove field evidence. The relative stability of the Maltese Islands allowed a first attempt to provide a palaeoenvironmental reconstruction of its coasts at different time windows since the Last Glacial Maximum. The results have been used to infer time and mode of mammal dispersal to the island during the Pleistocene.
URI: https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar//handle/123456789/25834
Appears in Collections:Scholarly Works - FacArtCA

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