Venice is renowned as a floating city, but new research reveals that the land beneath it once sat many miles inland. Dramatic shifts in sea level over the course of 10,000 years have completely reshaped the northern Adriatic coastline, submerging territory once traversed by human ancestors.
Reconstructing Ancient Landscapes
Samuele Ongaro of the University of Southampton and a team of researchers combined seismic data with sedimentary cores gathered from coastal basins across northern Italy, Slovenia, and northern Croatia. By analyzing this information, the team modeled regional sea-level changes and reconstructed landscapes dating back 10,000 years.
The findings, published in the journal Quaternary Science Reviews, indicate that the modern-day Venice lagoon was previously dry land reaching more than 30 miles out from the coast. Furthermore, the area surrounding Trieste once consisted of hills that overlooked a network of swamps and lagoons.
Adapting to Rising Waters
Beginning slightly more than 10,000 years ago, sea levels increased in intermittent bursts, at times rising by up to 25mm annually. This rapid environmental transformation compelled Mesolithic hunter-gatherer populations to continually adapt their hunting and fishing practices.
The most intense geographical alterations unfolded across three distinct phases, leading into a 6,000-year period of relative stability. This later stabilization enabled the establishment of permanent settlements and the introduction of agriculture within the familiar landscape seen today.
