GEOCHRONOLOGY OF TARSUS BERDAN PLAIN
Project no. 22452 · Status: Kapanmış · 2021
Summary
This research called "Geochronology of Tarsus Berdan Plain", it is aimed to reveal the paleogeographic development of the Tarsus Plain, which is a part of the Çukurova Deltas complex, and how the Gözlükule Mound in the region was affected by natural environmental changes. For this purpose, 19 core drilling made in the plain in 2001 and 2002 have been revaluated and sediment had been taken from these core drilling have been made sedimentology, element as well as paleontology analysis. Natural environmental changes in the plain and the Gözlükule Mound surrounding have been interpreted. Radiocarbon-14 analysis has been made in order to determine the chronology of the Tarsus Plain development. 5 radiocarbon-14 analysis has been made by TÜBİTAK MAM supported by Ege University Scientific Research Project Coordination, within the context of Project number SHD-2021-22452 and the other project. Laboratory pieces of equipment also have been obtained from these Projects. Paleontological, sedimentological, and elemental analysis of the sediment samples obtained from the soundings made in the Gözlükule Mound and Tarsus Plain have been evaluated together, and the paleogeographic development of the region has been re-evaluated according to the interpretations made and the data. Tarsus Plain is part of the Çukuova and there are Akdeniz in the South, Bolkar Mountain in the North and Northwest, Misis Mountain in the East around the plain. Gözlükule Mound is located on North of Tarsus Berdan Plain, which is one of the most important settlements in the area as called Kilikya in the ancient ages and has historical background until 7000 B.C. It is explain in historical sources that Tarsus is described as a coastal city and it is explained to reached by ships. However, as a result of our paleogeographical and geoarcheological researches, even at the time when the rising sea with the Holocene transgression was at its most intrusion in the Middle Holocene, it has been proven that Gözlükule Mound and Tarsus were never located on the coastal line. It is proven that there is lagoon (Rhegma Lagoon) described at the historical sources, in the Tarsus Plain formed by Tarsus, Seyhan and Ceyhan River with their alluvium. The lagoon had been restricted by the littoral cordon from the Mediterranean during the geomorphological devoloping. After that, the lagoon was evolved into the lake and finally the lake transform into the wetlnd area like swamp. Karabucak swamp which has charachter like flood plain in present, is an indicator in that wetland area in the North. During the existence of the lagoon, the Tarsus River was most likely reaching the sea over this lagoon. The depictions in historical expressions may be the interpretation of being able to reach Gözlükule and Tarsus via this river by ships.