Mediterranean eustatic and climatic variations vs the Phoenician-Punic settlement/abandonment phases

Alessandro Paladini, Maurizio Lazzari

Abstract

This paper focuses on the eustatic and climatic variations that occurred in the Mediterranean during the Phoenician-Punic period (13th-2nd century BC) and their impact on the spread and the settlement and economic development of the two civilizations. Through a multidisciplinary approach, the geographical-settlement contexts, as well as the archaeological and climatic ones, were surveyed and analyzed, paying particular attention to changes in sea level, geomorphological conditions and trade routes. The research was developed through the search for published archaeological and historical sources, including paleoclimatic, archaeobotanical and archaeozoological data. The published data relating to the Phoenician and Punic sites were tabulated, highlighting their period of foundation, crisis and disappearance, trying to highlight the correlations between settlements, climate and human activity. The aim was therefore to understand and reconstruct the climatic/settlement phases, contributing to a deeper understanding of the historical and natural dynamics of the Mediterranean in ancient times.

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IMEKO-Metroarchaeo-2025-074.pdf

DOI

10.21014/tc26-2025.074

IMEKO TC

TC26 - Metrology for Cultural Heritage

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