Investigating the existence of a "palaeo-foreshore" zone at Molos beach (Kefalos bay, Paros, Greece).

Abstract

The present study investigates the existence of a "palaeo-foreshore zone" at Molos beach  in  or  after  1884  A.D.,  as  defined  in  the  Greek  legislation  (Law  2971/ 19.12.2001). To this end, existing geological and climatological information were gathered, detailed geomorphological mapping was carried out and surficial sediment  samples  were  collected  along  a  shore-normal  transect  extending  from  the backshore  to  the  nearshore  (subaqueous)  zone.  In  addition,  sedimentological /stratigraphical data were obtained from two trenches (1.5 m and 3 m deep) that were excavated on the landward side of the coastal dunes. Topographic maps, aerial photographs and satellite images are used to study the recent changes of the shoreline position. On the basis of the above, it is concluded that the current backshore zone has recently evolved from a shallow lagoonal, to a terrestrial environment. The submerged beach rock formations are at similar water depths (0.3-0.4 m) with those observed in other islands of the Cyclades complex (i.e. Rhenia, Naxos) whose formation has been radio-carbon dated at least 200 years BP, indicating  that the 1884 A.D. shoreline was not landward, but approximately 15 m offshore relative to its present position