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This study deals with the analysis of the glacial processes that have affected the relief of Mt Chelmos in northern Peloponnesus, Greece during middle and Late Pleistocene. The goal was to compile a combined geomorphological-geological map of the study area which would enable the chronological stratification of the glacial landforms cropping up on...
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... lower part of the Laghada valley, stretching from 1000 to 2000 m, is very steep at middle altitudes (1400-2000 m) and deeply eroded by surface runoff for its entire stretch (V shaped - Figure 4). At around 1000 m it reaches the polje of Loussoi where extended alluvial deposits similar to the ones found in the lower Spanolakos valley above the settlement of Loussoi can be seen ( Figure 4). This area is characterized by thick accumulations of gravels and sands, superficially (<5 m in thickness) cemented in places (zone a in Figure 6). Interestingly, this sediment unit expands over the southern edge of the polje, where it has been exposed both by the modern Laghada river channel on its eastern side and by the modern river channel draining the polje on its western side. The latter vertical section is about 40 m deep and can be seen in Figure 6. As it can also be observed by this photo, the material at the upper part (zones a Figure 6 The Laghada alluvial fan at ca. 950 m. The lower part of this fan (zone c) is characterised by sub-rounded rock and boulder deposits. These are likely to be glacial in origin, either moraines or high-energy glaciofluvial deposits emanating from a glacier front that was a short distance up-valley at the apex of the fan in the Laghada gorge. The boulders present in stratified sands (zones a and b) are consistent with a glacio-fluvial origin. Photo by Aris Leontaritis - 2016. and b in Figure 6) is stratified forming a stacked sequence of gravel and sand accumulations, resembling the Spanolakos unit. It could therefore be characterized as a sequence of glacio-fluvial fans. The large sub-rounded boulders (>2 m in diameter) present in stratified sands (zones a and b) are consistent with a glacio-fluvial origin. However, the lower part of the unit (zone c in Figure 6) is a non- stratified diamicton with sub-rounded gravels, rocks and sub-rounded rocks (ca. 0.5-1m in diameter). A more detailed depiction of the unsorted material in zone c can be seen in Figure 7. These lower parts of the Laghada sedimentary unit could be interpreted as a former moraine which have then been eroded and subsequently mixed- with/covered-by later glacio-fluvial fans during more recent glaciation-deglaciation stages. Alternatively, they could be high-energy glaciofluvial deposits emanating from a glacier front that was a short distance up-valley at the apex of the fan in the Laghada ...
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... lower part of the Laghada valley, stretching from 1000 to 2000 m, is very steep at middle altitudes (1400-2000 m) and deeply eroded by surface runoff for its entire stretch (V shaped - Figure 4). At around 1000 m it reaches the polje of Loussoi where extended alluvial deposits similar to the ones found in the lower Spanolakos valley above the settlement of Loussoi can be seen ( Figure 4). This area is characterized by thick accumulations of gravels and sands, superficially (<5 m in thickness) cemented in places (zone a in Figure 6). Interestingly, this sediment unit expands over the southern edge of the polje, where it has been exposed both by the modern Laghada river channel on its eastern side and by the modern river channel draining the polje on its western side. The latter vertical section is about 40 m deep and can be seen in Figure 6. As it can also be observed by this photo, the material at the upper part (zones a Figure 6 The Laghada alluvial fan at ca. 950 m. The lower part of this fan (zone c) is characterised by sub-rounded rock and boulder deposits. These are likely to be glacial in origin, either moraines or high-energy glaciofluvial deposits emanating from a glacier front that was a short distance up-valley at the apex of the fan in the Laghada gorge. The boulders present in stratified sands (zones a and b) are consistent with a glacio-fluvial origin. Photo by Aris Leontaritis - 2016. and b in Figure 6) is stratified forming a stacked sequence of gravel and sand accumulations, resembling the Spanolakos unit. It could therefore be characterized as a sequence of glacio-fluvial fans. The large sub-rounded boulders (>2 m in diameter) present in stratified sands (zones a and b) are consistent with a glacio-fluvial origin. However, the lower part of the unit (zone c in Figure 6) is a non- stratified diamicton with sub-rounded gravels, rocks and sub-rounded rocks (ca. 0.5-1m in diameter). A more detailed depiction of the unsorted material in zone c can be seen in Figure 7. These lower parts of the Laghada sedimentary unit could be interpreted as a former moraine which have then been eroded and subsequently mixed- with/covered-by later glacio-fluvial fans during more recent glaciation-deglaciation stages. Alternatively, they could be high-energy glaciofluvial deposits emanating from a glacier front that was a short distance up-valley at the apex of the fan in the Laghada ...
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... landforms can be found mainly in the northern-eastern part of the study area in altitudes between 1500-2200 m. Cirques are situated on the higher part of Mt Chelmos, in the eastern part of the geomorphological map (Figure 4), at altitudes between 2000 m and 2200 m and have also been reported by Mastronuzzi et al. (1994) and Pope et al. (2017). Most interestingly, on Mt Chelmos there is a number of glacial valleys reported also in the studies of other researchers (Philippson 1892;Maull 1921;Mistardis 1937Mistardis b, c, 1946Mastronuzzi et al. 1994;Pope et al. 2017). Within the study area of the present paper the most interesting examples are the valleys of Spanolakos, the valley of Xerokambos where the Kalavryta ski resort is located and the valley of Laghada in the central part of the study area ( Figure 5). For reasons of consistency, the three Stratigraphic Units defined by Pope et al. (2017) have been used to correlate the different glacial features, depositions and sedimentary units. These Stratigraphic Units along with the attributed ages are summarized in Table ...
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... glacial origin of the Spanolakos valley (2145-1300 m) has also been recognized by Pope et al. (2017), distinguishing three main glacial features attributed to three distinct stratigraphical units. A well preserved cirque at 2145 m marks the head of the valley (Figure 4) along with large boulders and an indistinct moraine (Stratigraphical Unit 1). The most interesting glacial feature however is a very clear arcuate termino-lateral moraine, as it has been characterized by Mastronuzzi et al. (1994) and Pope et al. (2017), at an altitude of 1900-2050 m. Although it has never been dated, this moraine has also been correlated by Pope et al. (2017) ...
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... unit of glacial sediments can be seen in Figure 4 along with the Laghada valley unit discussed next. These units are clearly distinguished from those derived from erosional and depositional processes. Due to erosional processes V-shaped valleys and down cut erosion are formed by the action of the hydrographic network. The alluvial fans are present mainly in the western part of the study area, where most of the torrents deriving from the neighboring mountains end up in the polje of Loussoi, forming a continuous line of alluvial fans. A direct result of the above alluvial and glacial sediment flows was the extensive deposition inside, and in the boundaries, of the polje, filling it with sediments. These sediments are cohesive and they are reported in the geological maps as "Kato Soudena" ...
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... valley drains the northern flanks of Mt Chelmos. Its glacial origin is easily distinguishable and several glacier landforms, like a glacial cirque (Figure 4) and scattered perched boulders at the head of the valley at ca. 2200 m (Stratigraphical Unit 3 -Pope et al. 2017) as well as a terminal moraine at ca. 1850 m, have been identified (Philippson 1892;Mistardis 1937bMistardis ,c, 1946Mastronuzzi et al. 1994;Pope et al. 2017). The moraine has not been dated but it has been correlated by Pope et al. (2017) with the Kato Kambos unit on grounds of altitude. Its formation has therefore been attributed to a glacial advance/stabilisation phase during 40-30 ka (Stratigraphical Unit 2). However, given the new evidence from the dating of a termino-lateral moraine in the Spanolakos valley at a similar altitude (1900-2050 m) this moraine could also be correlated with a newly defined glacial advance/stabilization phase at 89-86 ka. The central part of the moraine at 1850 m has been destroyed by ski-resort earthworks in ...
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... further evidence at lower altitudes within the valley indicates further glacial/periglacial processes. Specifically, there has been identified a well-preserved cemented diamicton tillite unit (Figure 4), just below the car park at ca. 1650 m ( Figure 5). The upper-altitude tillites consist of poorly sorted cemented sub- rounded rocks, boulders and gravels and can be spotted on the ground surface.. The unit's valley limits downwards are not clear but the cemented gravels, probably of glacio-fluvial origin extend down to 1200 m at the western part of the Xerokambos valley (Valvousi valley). This unit has also been reported by Tsoflias (1973), and was characterized as cemented conglomerates. At lower altitudes (<1500 m), it mainly consists of gravels which are also exposed by the main road from Kalavryta to the ski resort. However, at this stage, the absence of clear evidence for the glacial limits makes rather difficult the determination of the extent of the largest former glacier in Xerokambos valley. Similarly, within the Strogilolaka valley (2100-1900 m) there is abundant glacial evidence, like glacial boulders lying on top of diamicton ridges, but deposits have been poorly preserved due to modern stream activity ( Pope et al. 2017). In any case, the limits of Stratigraphical Unit 1 have not been yet identified within the Laghada valley, which ends up right on the southern edge of the Loussoi ...
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... general, the aim was to create a final geomorphological map, which along with its legend is self-explanatory (see Figure 4). Since the contours are displayed with light shades of grey, indication of the relief inclinations was essential as an additional feature of the morphology, in order to improve the map ...
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... Structural stacking may dominate or may be overtaken by sedimentary burial; frontal accretion enhances horizontal advection of rock while underplating translates rock perpendicularly to the surface [89]; models demonstrate that topographic steady-state may be realized even during the early growth of an orogen [4,108]. Besides, great progress has been achieved in giv-ing clues about orogenic forcings to climate change [21,48,51,60,70]. ...
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Past human mountain settlement patterns and resource and high-altitude landscape exploitation are underexplored research fields in archaeology. This study presents data gathered during more than 20 years of fieldwork in the Pindus range of Western Macedonia (Greece), focusing in particular on Holocene land use. The investigated territory is located around the Vlach town of Samarina. The area is partly bounded by Mounts Vasilitsa, Gurguliu, Bogdani and Anitsa, and their interconnecting watersheds between ca. 1400 and 2000 m a.s.l. This research led to the discovery of many sites and findspots of lithic and ceramic artefacts attributed to the Middle and Upper Palaeolithic, Mesolithic, Late Neolithic, Chalcolithic, Bronze Age, and several Historical periods. The radiocarbon results show an unexpected longue durée of Holocene human landscape use. The number of sites, their distribution, location, and subsistence strategies exhibit shifts between the Middle Palaeolithic and different periods of the Holocene, which are closely related to the exploitation of the mountain environment and its resources. Moreover, typical knapped stone artefacts have been used as a proxy for dating the glacial landforms which characterise the Samarina highland zone; we correlate them to the better-known moraine systems of Mount Tymphi in Epirus and contribute to the reconstruction of the Pleistocene glacial landscapes of the Pindus Range.
... Such geological settings allowed intense karstification resulting in many karstic forms such as those of nearby Lousi Polje. In contrast, traces of Pleistocene glaciation were recorded above the 2000 m a.s.l. and dated to 40 to 80 ka BP, with the current presence of glacial cirques, remnants of moraines, and widespread glaciofluvial cones (Pope et al., 2017;Pavlopoulos et al., 2018). ...
The eastern Mediterranean is a hotspot in terms of geomorphic hazards, but the activity of gravitational processes in mountainous areas is largely unexplored. We carried out dendrogeomorphic research in the Helmos Mountains (Northern Peloponnese, Greece) to determine the timing, spatial extent, and hydrometeorological triggers of debris flows and snow avalanches. Specifically, we sampled increment cores from 123 injured Greek firs (Abies cephalonica L.) growing on a debris flow cone and growing along a snow avalanche track. Tree rings were counted and cross-dated with the reference chronology using CooRecorder and CDendro software and the event years were determined on the basis of the location of scars and traumatic resin ducts. We compiled an 118-year chronology (1904–2021) with seven debris flow event years and only one severe debris flow occurring in the 1970/1971 dormant period (WIt = 148.0), followed by spatially limited records for 1986/1987 (WIt = 3.8) and 1993/1994 (WIt = 2.5). Similarly, seven snow avalanche event years were identified in the period 1854–2021, with one major event in 1997/1998 (WIt = 304.5) followed by the 1998/1999 event (WIt = 6.3). Extremely wet conditions in February–March 1971 followed by rain-on-snow precipitation were considered as the most likely trigger of the analysed debris flow event using data from nearby meteorological stations and the ERA5 reanalysis. The snow avalanche event was deciphered in the spring of 1998, when heavy snowfall over three days (62 cm) was followed by rapid snowmelt due to high average temperatures (6–11 °C). We conclude that the abundance of snow is a crucial factor in the geomorphic activity in the study region and that the temperature fluctuations and rain-to-snow transitions are the leading factors for the debris flows or snow avalanches to occur. Furthermore, the dendrogeomorphic approach used can be useful to clearly identify large-scale geomorphic events and excludes potential geomorphic noise caused by other ecological stresses.
... Examples of radiometric dating sites in the Mediterranean are shown in Fig. 3 (56) De Beaulieu, 1977;Finsinger and Ribolini, 2001;Ponel et al., 2001;Ortu 2002, Ortu et al., 2005Federici et al., 2008Darnault et al., 2012;Brisset et al., 2015;Rolland et al., 2017.0 o E 22 (22) Conchon, 1986;Reille et al., 1997;Hewitt, 2002;Kuhlemann et al., 2008. Italian Apennines 42.5 13.6 o E 52 (52) Frezzotti and Giraudi, 1989Giraudi, , 1992Lowe and Watson, 1992;Giraudi and Frezzotti, 1997;Kotarba et al., 2001;Baroni et al., 2018 Marjanac et al., 2001; Lewin et al., 1991;Pavlopoulos et al., 2018; Bayrakdar, 2012Bayrakdar, , Çılğın, 2015Ćiner et al., 2015Bayrakdar et al., 2017; Cl (g Ca) -1 yr -1 ), K spallation (151 ± 14 atoms 36 Cl (g K) -1 yr -1 ) and thermal neutron production (691 ± 186 neutrons (g air) -1 yr -1 ) were used for 36 Cl . A reference production rate of 4.00 ± 0.32 10 Be atoms g -1 yr -1 was used for 10 Be Phillips et al., 2016). ...
... Terminal moraines on Mount Chelmos that lie further downvalley remain undated and are hypothesised to be of Middle Pleistocene age (Pope et al., 2017; Leontaritis et al., 2020). Optically-stimulated luminescence (OSL) dating in the Spanolakos valley of Mount Chelmos may also indicate an earlier 152 phase of Late Pleistocene glacier activity early in the last glacial cycle at c. 89-86 ka(Pavlopoulos et al., 2018). ...
The Mediterranean mountains were glaciated during cold stages of the Pleistocene. This glacial record is often well preserved, providing an important archive of past temperature and moisture conditions that extends deep into the Middle Pleistocene. The most extensive glaciations occurred during the Middle Pleistocene, when large ice caps developed in the upland karsts of the Balkans. It is now clear that glaciers were present throughout the Late Pleistocene across the Mediterranean. Some small glaciers remain today, sustained by favourable topoclimatic factors, although many have declined in recent decades due to rising global temperatures. This thesis presents an up-to-date meta-analysis of the geochronological record for the Mediterranean, which highlights greater complexity in the timing of Pleistocene glaciation across the region than hitherto recognised. Key aspects of the glacial record lie outside the moraines in downstream river systems and in marine settings. Despite a wealth of dates for the Late Pleistocene, the timing of glacier maxima and deglaciation in the Balkans is poorly understood. New geomorphological mapping, 52 36Cl terrestrial cosmogenic nuclide exposure ages, and palaeoglacier modelling address a geographical gap in the Mediterranean record and a temporal gap in the previously undated Late Pleistocene and Holocene records at two sites in Greece and Montenegro. Late Pleistocene glaciers were restricted to the upper valleys and cirques at Mount Tymphi in the Pindus Mountains of northwest Greece and in the Durmitor Massif, in the Dinaric Alps of northern Montenegro. The timing of moraine formation and glacier retreat at Mount Tymphi is consistent with the Voidomatis River record downstream and the Ioannina basin pollen record. Glaciers were present in the high cirques of the Durmitor Massif during the Younger Dryas. In contrast, evidence of Younger Dryas glaciation is absent from Mount Tymphi. At Durmitor, Late Holocene moraines that pre-date the Little Ice Age have been identified for the first time in the Dinaric Alps and correspond with the Late Antique Little Ice Age at c. 600 CE. This research also examines the Late Pleistocene terrestrial cosmogenic nuclide (TCN) record for the wider Mediterranean region and demonstrates that mountain glaciers responded to repeated temperature and precipitation changes in the North Atlantic during the Late Pleistocene. While 36Cl dating has enhanced our understanding of the Late Pleistocene and Holocene record, challenges still remain that inhibit our geochronological and palaeoclimatic interpretations. A key conclusion from this research is that it is preferable to use multiple radiometric and relative dating methods in limestone glaciokarst settings.
... have been glaciated in the past while glacial sediments within mountain valleys have been found down to 700 m a.s.l. (Pavlopoulos et al., 2018), implying that glacial extent was greater than previously thought. Leontaritis et al., 2020) Figure 1 (modified from Leontaritis et al., 2020) Massif References Massif References 1. Grammos Bourcart (1922) Louis (1926) 2. Nemercka Louis (1926) 3. Smolikas Niculescu (1915) Mistardis (1937a) Boenzi et al. (1992) Hughes ( Cvijić (1917) Wiche (1956) Messerli (1967) Faugeres (1969) Smith et al. (1997) Manz (1998) Styllas et al. (2006;2008) 7. Lakmos Sestini (1933) 8. Kakarditsa Sestini (1933) 9. Agrafa Hunt and Sugden (1964) 10. ...
... Erymanthos Mistardis (1937a) 16. Chelmos Philippson (1892) Maull (1921) Mistardis (1937a, 1937b, 1937c, 1946; Mastronuzzi et al. (1994) (Pope et al., 2017) Pavlopoulos et al. (2018 17. Ziria (Pope et al., 2017) 18. Taygetos Maull (1921) Mistardis (1937a) Mastronuzzi et al. (1994) Pope (2010) Kleman et al. (2016) The glacial sequence in northwest Greece (Mount Tymphi) is one of the first mountainous areas in the Mediterranean where the full progression from pioneer to advanced glacial research took place and is very well dated (Woodward et al., 2004;Hughes et al., 2006aHughes et al., , 2006bWoodward and Hughes, 2011;Allard et al., 2020). ...
... At the same time studying the glacial history of southern Greece aimed at expanding geographically this chronology to the rest of Greece. In recent years new dating data has been published from southern Greece (Mt Chelmos in the Peloponnese - Pope et al., 2017;Pavlopoulos et al., 2018) from Mt Olympus in the northeast (Styllas et al., 2018) and from Mt Tymphi in the northwest (Allard et al., 2020) providing a robust chronological framework for the mountains of Greece ( Figure 1; Table 1). A complete review of the glacial studies in Greece is presented in 2.3. ...
Abstract
The objective of this thesis is to address temporal gaps in the glacial history of the Pindus Mountains in northwest Greece with new insights from the study of the glacial record of Mt Mavrovouni and its connection with the respective records in southern Greece and in the Balkans. The glacial geomorphology of Mt Mavrovouni was mapped and the timing of Late Pleistocene glaciations was constrained by cosmogenic 36Cl exposure ages from ophiolitic glacial boulders within a well-preserved glacial/periglacial sequence. These ages indicate that the most extensive Late Pleistocene glaciers reached their terminal positions at 26.6 ± 6.6 ka suggesting a Late Pleistocene local glacial maximum close in timing to the Last Glacial Maximum (27-23 ka). This timing was confirmed by 36Cl ages from limestone glacial boulders in a similar study in the nearby Mt Tymphi. The consistency of these ages validates the theoretical suitability of cosmogenic 36Cl exposure dating on ophiolites while it constitutes the only chronology of Late Pleistocene glaciations on the mountains of Greece that is independent from inherent issues in surface exposure dating of limestones such as weathering rates of rock surfaces. At the same time the geochronological framework of Late Pleistocene glaciations in the Pindus mountains in northwest Greece is now one of the best dated in western Balkans. New evidence and a detailed review of glacial studies in the mountains of Greece provided a new synthesis of our current understanding of the Quaternary glacial history of Greece. The ice cover during the largest Middle Pleistocene glaciations (MIS 12/ MIS 6) was more extensive than previously thought. Latest evidence from Mt Tymphi, Mt Smolikas and Mt Chelmos along with findings of other glacial studies in western Balkans suggests that valley glaciers radiated from central ice field/ice caps throughout this region during the most extensive Middle Pleistocene glaciations. Ice extent was considerably smaller during the Last Glacial Cycle (MIS 5d – MIS 2) whereas during the Holocene only very small glaciers formed in some deep-cirques thanks to strong local topographical and climatic controls. Finally, an analysis of regional palaeoclimatic records showed that moisture supply of the atmospheric systems seems to have been the most critical factor for the formation of glaciers in the mountains of Greece. Moreover, the Late Pleistocene Equilibrium Line Altitudes across Greece indicate a wetter climate in southern Greece that can be attributed to different palaeoatmospheric circulation mechanisms in central Mediterranean that forced moisture supply into a SW-NE track.
... Terminal moraines on Mount Chelmos that lie further downvalley remain undated and are hypothesised to be of Middle Pleistocene age (Pope et al., 2017;Leontaritis et al., 2020). Optically-stimulated luminescence (OSL) dating in the Spanolakos valley of Mount Chelmos may also indicate an earlier phase of Late Pleistocene glacier activity early in the last glacial cycle at c. 89e86 ka (Pavlopoulos et al., 2018). ...
Glaciers formed in the highest mountains of Greece during the Late Pleistocene, but the timing of glacier maxima is poorly understood. This paper presents 27 ³⁶Cl terrestrial cosmogenic nuclide exposure ages from glacial boulders on Mount Tymphi (2497 m a.s.l., 40oN) in Epirus, northwest Greece. These ages address both a significant geographical gap in Mediterranean glacial chronologies and a temporal gap in the glacial history of this region by targeting the previously undated Late Pleistocene record. Late Pleistocene glaciers were restricted to the cirques and upper valleys of Mount Tymphi. Terminal and lateral moraines between 1700 m and 2050 m a.s.l. mark the extent of Late Pleistocene glaciers on the southern side of Mount Tymphi. Moraines marking the maximum extent of Late Pleistocene glaciation date to 29.0 ± 3.0 ka and 25.7 ± 2.6 ka, taking the oldest ages as most representative of moraine emplacement. Glaciers had retreated to the high cirques by 24.5 ± 2.4 ka during Heinrich Stadial 2. Rock glaciers formed under cold and drier conditions during this period of glacier retreat. This ³⁶Cl dataset complements published U-series ages from secondary calcites in glacial sediments below 1700 m elevation, which demonstrate more extensive Middle Pleistocene glaciations in MIS 6 and MIS 12. A Late Pleistocene glacier maxima on Mount Tymphi at 25.7–29 ka is in good agreement with well-preserved outwash sediments dating to 24–28 ka in the Voidomatis River record downstream and is consistent with the Ioaninna basin pollen record indicating cool and wet conditions, most favourable for glacier growth, at 25–30 ka.
... Such diversity survived the glacial periods in situ (Kryštufek et al. 2009;Panagiotopoulos et al. 2014;Papadopoulou et al. 2018), but in different ratios and spatial distribution than today, with a higher representation of Artemisia and Chenopodiaceae steppes (Elenga et al. 2000;Pross et al. 2015). The extent of glaciation was wide in the Balkans during glacial maxima (Hughes et al. 2011;Pavlopoulos et al. 2018), and both the temperate and evergreen vegetation retreated (Urban and Fuchs 2005;Pross et al. 2015). The Pleistocene mammalian fauna of the Balkans contained numerous steppe elements, both large (Athanassiou 2012) and small (Kryštufek et al. 2009). ...
... The differentiation of populations probably mirrors the persisting vegetation and landscape diversity of the Balkan Peninsula, which could fragment the distribution of a steppe specialist if compared to the contiguous Pontic-Caspian steppes. The glacial maxima also could limit dispersal by extensive mountain glaciations (Hughes et al. 2011;Pavlopoulos et al. 2018), limiting the species to sheltered gorges. An analogous situation was observed in a steppe rodent, Spermophilus citellus, which forms a widespread lineage in the Danube region and on both western and eastern sides of the Carpathian arch, but multiple differentiated lineages in the Balkans (Říčanová et al. 2013), including unique lineages in the Skopje surroundings (North Macedonia) and on the Upper Thracian Plain (Bulgaria). ...
Palaearctic steppes evolved under the Cenozoic cold arid climate and megaherbivore pressure. A large portion of the biome persisted into the Holocene but has recently been subjected to human land use alternation. Pseudophilotes bavius (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae) is a steppe specialist sporadically distributed in Eastern Europe and Pontic-Caspian region (from Transylvania to Southern Urals), the Balkans, the South-Eastern Mediterranean and Irano-Anatolian regions. We used samples covering the distribution area to assess the phylogeography and population genetics of the species based on one mitochondrial and four nuclear genes. The basal lineages are situated in the Irano-Anatolian region, forming two Evolutionary Units. The species radiated to the Balkans and Pontic-Caspian steppes probably when the climatic conditions became suitable after the mid-Pleistocene transition and formation of vast steppe biome. In these parts of the range, the species survived both glacial and interglacial periods in situ, forming a third Evolutionary Unit. In the Balkans, the individual populations are distinct and have probably been isolated for a long time, owing to the diversity of Balkan habitats. In the Pontic-Caspian region, population connectivity probably existed until recently, since the life history of the species is unlikely to include long-distance dispersal. The distribution could have become fragmented with the conversion of steppes into cropland during the past centuries. Future conservation will require proper knowledge of the distribution and habitat needs of the species. Management of inhabited sites should respect historical disturbance-succession dynamics.
... However, even though the Geological Sheets of the Greek Institute for Geological and Mineral Exploration (IGME) often misinterpret glacial deposits, in reality, evidence suggests that some mountains even below 2000 m a.s.l. have been quite extensively glaciated in the past (Pavlopoulos et al. 2018). ...
... Erymanthos Mistardis (1937a) 16. Chelmos Philipson (1892); Maull (1921) Mistardis (1937aMistardis ( , 1937bMistardis ( , 1937cMistardis ( , 1946; Mastronuzzi et al. (1994); Pope et al. (2017); Pavlopoulos et al. (2018) 17. Ziria (Pope et al. 2017) 18. Taygetos Maull (1921); Mistardis (1937a) Mastronuzzi et al. (1994; Pope (2010); Kleman et al. (2016) speleothems, and the marine sedimentary record (Woodward 2009). ...
... The glacial sequence in northwest Greece (Mount Tymphi) is one of the first mountainous areas in the Mediterranean where the full progression from pioneer to advanced glacial research phases has taken place and is very well dated (Woodward et al. 2004;Hughes et al. 2006a, b;Woodward and Hughes 2011). In recent years, new dating evidence has been published from southern Greece (Mt Chelmos in the Peloponnese- Pope et al. 2017;Pavlopoulos et al. 2018) and from Mt Olympus in the northeast (Styllas et al. 2018) providing a robust chronostratigraphical framework for the mountains of Greece (Fig. 1). This paper will, therefore, review in detail the glacial records from these areas with the aim to provide an insightful synthesis of our current understanding of glaciations in the mountains of Greece. ...
This paper reviews the glacial history of the mountains of Greece at the southernmost tip of the Balkans, providing a new synthesis of our current understanding of glaciations. The ice cover during the largest Middle Pleistocene glaciations (MIS 12/MIS 6) was more extensive than previously thought. Latest evidence from Mt Chelmos suggests that valley glaciers radiated from a central plateau ice field, whereas the findings of other glacial studies in western Balkans further indicate that extensive ice field/ice caps formed on mountains throughout this region during the Middle Pleistocene glaciations. Ice extent was considerably smaller during the Tymphian Stage (MIS 5d–MIS 2) and this has been confirmed by cosmogenic exposure ages in recent studies on Mt Olympus and Mt Chelmos. During the Holocene, only very small glaciers formed in some deep cirques where they survived because of strong local topoclimatic controls. A comparative analysis with the findings of other glacial and palaeoclimatic studies in the Balkans is also presented to highlight correlations between them. Moisture supply seems to have been the most critical factor for the formation of glaciers in the mountains of Greece. The comparison of Late Pleistocene Equilibrium Line Altitudes (ELAs) across the Balkans indicates a wetter climate in southern Greece that can be attributed to different palaeoatmospheric circulation mechanisms and precipitation regime in central Mediterranean. Conclusively, whilst important information has been added in the last 2 decades, this paper highlights the need for further research in Greece and the wider Balkans to establish the timing and extent of glaciations.
... indicate that the glacial maximum of the last cold stage occurred during MIS 3 (40-30 ka), several thousand years before the global LGM at MIS 2 (Pope et al. 2015). On the contrary, ground moraines at the same elevation in a parallel valley yielded optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) ages of MIS-5b (89-86 ka) (Pavlopoulos et al. 2018). The lowest glacial deposits reaching elevations of ~ 1200 m a.s.l. were not dated, but they are assumed to be of Middle Pleistocene age (Pope et al. 2015). ...
Background
The highest parts of the Dinaric Mountains along the eastern Adriatic coast of the southern Europe, known for their typical Mediterranean karst-dominated landscape and very humid climate, were glaciated during the Late Pleistocene. Palaeo-piedmont type glaciers that originated from Čvrsnica Mountain (2226 m a.s.l.; above sea level) in Bosnia and Herzegovina deposited hummocky, lateral and terminal moraines into the Blidinje Polje.
Aim and method
We constrained the timing of the largest recognized glacier extent on Svinjača and Glavice piedmont glaciers by applying the cosmogenic 36Cl surface exposure dating method on twelve boulder samples collected from lateral, terminal and hummocky moraines.
Results
Using 40 mm ka–1 bedrock erosion rate due to high precipitation rates, we obtained ³⁶Cl ages of Last Glacial Maximum (LGM; 22.7 ± 3.8 ka) from the hummocky moraines, and Younger Dryas (13.2 ± 1.8 ka) from the lateral moraine in Svinjača area. The amphitheater shaped terminal moraine in Glavice area also yielded a Younger Dryas (13.5 ± 1.8 ka) age within the error margins.
Conclusions
Our results provide a new dataset, and present a relevant contribution towards a better understanding of the glacial chronologies of the Dinaric Mountains. Because our boulder ages reflect complex exhumation and denudation histories, future work is needed to better understand these processes and their influence on the cosmogenic exposure dating approach in a karstic landscape.
Significant features of the ancient Greek landscape were its open-air cult sites, one of which was theἄλσος, translated in modern English to 'sacred grove'. Sacred groves were areas of natural forest, or trees that were planted as spaces of worship. In these spaces, religion was interwoven with thelandscape; wherein human-nature interactions formed a foundation for cultural practice. Yet,
despite the connection between landscape and religion in these spaces, research in the field of sacred groves has focused primarily upon their religious qualities: scholarship has rarely delved into sacred groves as natural ecosystems, and their roles as ecosystems in ancient Greek religion. This approach has overlooked the inherent entanglement between nature and culture in ancient Greece,
as well as the agency of sacred groves as natural ecosystems in the ancient Greek world. Accordingly, this thesis asks: what is the nature of entanglement between humans and ancient Greece's sacred groves?
