DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.748#0243
200 ARCHAEOLOGICAL INSTITUTE.
well as along the southern coast east of Baba-calessi, and probably
also in the interior,1 indicates that the strata in which it is found in
all the localities mentioned are essentially of the same age.
The rocks of both areas occur at elevations high above the sea
level, and make it evident that a great change in the configuration
of the country has taken place since the period of their deposition.
The distribution of the tertiary rocks shows clearly that they were
formed before the Hellespont existed, and suggests that what is now
the peninsula of the Troad may then have been several islands. It
has been shown by the observations of others that the water in
which the strata were deposited was either fresh or brackish.
ALLUVIUM.
The alluvium of the Troad occurs chiefly in the plains already
noticed in describing the river valleys. Two of the plains are along
the Mendereh, and of these the Plain of Troy has been fully de-
scribed by Professor Virchow, in his excellent work entitled Beitrage
zur Landeskunde der Troas.
Of the three along the valley of the Touzla only the Halesian
Plain by the sea is of considerable importance. It is extensive and
fertile, and is nearly divided into two parts by the low ridges of
tertiary several kilometres west of Touzla. The old Roman bridge,
which once spanned the river where it breaks across these ridges,
now stands upon a level plain about two hundred and thirty metres
from the present river bed. The amount of filling around it, by
which the surface was brought up to the general level of the plain,
appears to have been at least two metres. The detritus near the
ancient structure is generally very fine, but contains some gravel,
and is like that upon other portions of the great plain, whose sur-
face is about two metres above the bottom of the Mendereh.
Were it not for the bridge one would not be likely to suspect that
formerly the river bed had been at that place. It is an interesting
example, showing that great changes have occurred within the last
two thousand years.
1 Good specimens of lignite were shown to the writer at Eanedeh, and were
said to have been collected within a two-hours' walk from that place; but their
possessor could not be induced to disclose more definitely the locality of his
treasure.
well as along the southern coast east of Baba-calessi, and probably
also in the interior,1 indicates that the strata in which it is found in
all the localities mentioned are essentially of the same age.
The rocks of both areas occur at elevations high above the sea
level, and make it evident that a great change in the configuration
of the country has taken place since the period of their deposition.
The distribution of the tertiary rocks shows clearly that they were
formed before the Hellespont existed, and suggests that what is now
the peninsula of the Troad may then have been several islands. It
has been shown by the observations of others that the water in
which the strata were deposited was either fresh or brackish.
ALLUVIUM.
The alluvium of the Troad occurs chiefly in the plains already
noticed in describing the river valleys. Two of the plains are along
the Mendereh, and of these the Plain of Troy has been fully de-
scribed by Professor Virchow, in his excellent work entitled Beitrage
zur Landeskunde der Troas.
Of the three along the valley of the Touzla only the Halesian
Plain by the sea is of considerable importance. It is extensive and
fertile, and is nearly divided into two parts by the low ridges of
tertiary several kilometres west of Touzla. The old Roman bridge,
which once spanned the river where it breaks across these ridges,
now stands upon a level plain about two hundred and thirty metres
from the present river bed. The amount of filling around it, by
which the surface was brought up to the general level of the plain,
appears to have been at least two metres. The detritus near the
ancient structure is generally very fine, but contains some gravel,
and is like that upon other portions of the great plain, whose sur-
face is about two metres above the bottom of the Mendereh.
Were it not for the bridge one would not be likely to suspect that
formerly the river bed had been at that place. It is an interesting
example, showing that great changes have occurred within the last
two thousand years.
1 Good specimens of lignite were shown to the writer at Eanedeh, and were
said to have been collected within a two-hours' walk from that place; but their
possessor could not be induced to disclose more definitely the locality of his
treasure.