DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.2532#0112
THE GEOLOGY OF THE HERAEUM REGION
By HENRY STEPHENS WASHINGTON
The geology of Argolis, as compared with that of other parts of Greece, is simple.
Argolis is not only, from a geological standpoint, quite recent in formation, but it has
also been the scene of much less disturbance than other parts of Greece. None of the
rocks exposed date back beyond the Jurassic Period, and there is little of the profound
metamorphism which has produced the marbles and schists of Attica, which according to
Lepsius1 are either Palaeozoic or Archaean.
In the present paper it is purposed to sketch briefly the geology of the district imme-
diately surrounding the Argive Heraeum, say within a radius of fifteen kilometres, to
examine the agencies which tend to bury ancient remains, and to discuss the site of the
Heraeum in the light of the information so grained.
GEOLOGY OF ARGOLIS.2
Alluvium. — The geographical and sociological centre of Argolis is the Argive plain,
a flat expanse of loose alluvium, roughly triangular in shape, the apex to the north,
with an area of approximately 170 square kilometres, and an average elevation above sea
level of perhaps twenty-five metres. Near the coast are swamps which apparently are
slowly drying up, and which will eventually disappear as marshes or will move seaward.
Beyond these, to the north, is a flat, nearly horizontal plain, formed of brown, partly
loose and sandy, and partly clayey loam, without stones. Nearer the mountain borders,
especially to the east and north, the altitude is higher and the slope greater, and the
ground contains many pebbles brought down from the mountains. This pebbly, higher
zone extends north of a line curving round from Merbaka to Kutzopodi.
This plain is the latest formation of the Argive district, having been formed in geo-
logically very recent times by the deposition, in a previously existing bay, of sediment
brought down from the surrounding mountains. It is difficult, if not impossible, to give
even an approximate estimate in years of the age of this plain. Measurements of the
rate of deposition along the coast would furnish a basis for calculation, but at present
such data are wanting. They would also yield uncertain results, since it is highly
probable that the rate of deposition at present is different from, and probably greater
than, that of former times. The matter is still further complicated by the fact that the
coast along the Gulf of Nauplia probably has been, and is now, sinking. This fact is
discussed by Cold,3 who cites several instances of ancient Greek ruins now lying beneath
the sea. He mentions, among others, the site of Lerna, and also refers to a road which
led from this place to Nauplia along the shore, which was restored by the Venetians,
1 Lepsius, Geologie von Attica (Berlin, 1893), p. 170.
2 For the greater part of my information about this
region I am indebted to the excellent work of Dr. A.
Philippson, Der Peloponnes (Berlin, 1892).
3 C. Cold, Kuslenvercmderungen im Archipel (Munich,
1886), p. 14.
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By HENRY STEPHENS WASHINGTON
The geology of Argolis, as compared with that of other parts of Greece, is simple.
Argolis is not only, from a geological standpoint, quite recent in formation, but it has
also been the scene of much less disturbance than other parts of Greece. None of the
rocks exposed date back beyond the Jurassic Period, and there is little of the profound
metamorphism which has produced the marbles and schists of Attica, which according to
Lepsius1 are either Palaeozoic or Archaean.
In the present paper it is purposed to sketch briefly the geology of the district imme-
diately surrounding the Argive Heraeum, say within a radius of fifteen kilometres, to
examine the agencies which tend to bury ancient remains, and to discuss the site of the
Heraeum in the light of the information so grained.
GEOLOGY OF ARGOLIS.2
Alluvium. — The geographical and sociological centre of Argolis is the Argive plain,
a flat expanse of loose alluvium, roughly triangular in shape, the apex to the north,
with an area of approximately 170 square kilometres, and an average elevation above sea
level of perhaps twenty-five metres. Near the coast are swamps which apparently are
slowly drying up, and which will eventually disappear as marshes or will move seaward.
Beyond these, to the north, is a flat, nearly horizontal plain, formed of brown, partly
loose and sandy, and partly clayey loam, without stones. Nearer the mountain borders,
especially to the east and north, the altitude is higher and the slope greater, and the
ground contains many pebbles brought down from the mountains. This pebbly, higher
zone extends north of a line curving round from Merbaka to Kutzopodi.
This plain is the latest formation of the Argive district, having been formed in geo-
logically very recent times by the deposition, in a previously existing bay, of sediment
brought down from the surrounding mountains. It is difficult, if not impossible, to give
even an approximate estimate in years of the age of this plain. Measurements of the
rate of deposition along the coast would furnish a basis for calculation, but at present
such data are wanting. They would also yield uncertain results, since it is highly
probable that the rate of deposition at present is different from, and probably greater
than, that of former times. The matter is still further complicated by the fact that the
coast along the Gulf of Nauplia probably has been, and is now, sinking. This fact is
discussed by Cold,3 who cites several instances of ancient Greek ruins now lying beneath
the sea. He mentions, among others, the site of Lerna, and also refers to a road which
led from this place to Nauplia along the shore, which was restored by the Venetians,
1 Lepsius, Geologie von Attica (Berlin, 1893), p. 170.
2 For the greater part of my information about this
region I am indebted to the excellent work of Dr. A.
Philippson, Der Peloponnes (Berlin, 1892).
3 C. Cold, Kuslenvercmderungen im Archipel (Munich,
1886), p. 14.
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1