Page 43 - TINA Dergi Sayi 11

TINA

Maritime Archaeology Periodical

It resulted in expansion of swampy land around the During the Middle Holocene, when the sea reached its
Rhegma Lake, with a decrease in depth. In fact, it is sup- present level, the delta was shaped by the sediments
ported by the presence of peat layers within the terres- that accumulated on the shore and surrounding coast-
trial sediments that came over marine deposits observed al environment, present delta sediments that have de-
during the core drilling that was carried out on the south- veloped since the Middle Holocene and the overlaying
ern part of Tarsus plain. As a result of these develop- cover consisting of sediments from the Late Holocene
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ments, the Rhegma port also lost its significance (Fig. river (Asi) floods .
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19). In the course of time, despite siltation of Tarsus Plain The sea rising with Holocene transgression pro-
with alluvial deposits, there existed a wide wetland for a gressed until the area between Sabuniye and the Mina
long period of time in the area of the Rhegma lagoon and Mound at the end of the Early Holocene. During that
lake until mid 20th century. This wetland, which was a period, the area of Asi delta was a gulf (Fig. 20A).
swamp to a great extent, was called Aynaz Swamp. In When the sea level reach to its present level during the
1950s, the Aynaz swamp was dried to perform agricul- Middle Holocene, the streams started to fill the gulf
tural activities (Fig. 19). with their alluvial content. Al Mina was an important
12- ASI RIVER DELTA, SABUNIYE - MINA MOUNDS AND SELEUCIA PIERIA port settlement located in the Asi Delta. Accordingly,
The Asi Delta lies to the southwest of Antakya city the coastline reached this point between 8th and 4th
center (Fig. 4). The plain is surrounded by the Amanos century BC, and a flood plain was present on the delta
Mountain range in the north, Semen and Ziyaret moun- sediments, leading to an active human life (Fig. 20B).
tains in the east, and Keldağ Mountain in the south. And Al Mina lost its port characteristics during the 4th
it opens to the Mediterranean Sea in the west. The sedi- century BC, while Seleucia Pieria flourished to have
ments transported by the Asi River have played import- become an important port of the region (Fig. 20C).
ant role in formation of the delta, which has a shoreline Then, Al Mina gradually remained inland (Fig. 20D).
with a length of approximately 14,2 km, and a width Seleucia Pieria experienced environmental problems
of up to 100-150 m at some places. Sabuniye, Al Mina from the initial years, which resulted in some mea-
and Seleucia Pieria are among the major ancient set- sures taken to protect the port. During that period, the
tlements located on the plain . Twelve alluvial core delta shoreline has become closer to its present posi-
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drillings were performed to determine the geomorpho- tion on the northern end (Fig. 20E). Due to dominant
logical evolution of the delta plain . Paleogeographical wind direction from the sea and regulatory effect of
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maps have been drawn based on evaluations of these littoral currents, the shoreline, similar to that of today,
drill cores (Fig. 20). The sea water rising over the for- in general had a straight extension except a promon-
mer delta plain prior to Holocene moved further inland tory at the mouth of the stream. At present, the shore-
and formed a gulf in this area. line has reached its present position, while the port
A marine environment was dominant in this area un- of Seleucia Pieria was both silted up and remained
til the period where the rise in sea level slowed down inland due to alluvial drowning and tectonic move-
(Early Holocene), and marine sediments accumulated. ments (Fig. 20E).

50 ÖNER et al 2005, 2005b
51 YENER et al 2002
52 ÖNER 2008
53 ÖNER et al 2013b
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