CLIMATE CHANGE IN THE GÖKSU VALLEY, TURKEY IN ANTIQUITY

Two field seasons have been spent investigating the geology, geomorphology, and geoarchaeology of the Göksu river valley in south-central Turkey. This river valley is currently scheduled to be flooded for a hydro-electric dam to be constructed at the mouth of the Çogla Canyon. This valley has been inhabited since the Paleolithic era and has undergone extensive climate change since antiquity. Geomorphic analysis is being used to determine the timing of the hydrologic changes resulting from ancient desertificiation and deforestation.

A GIS database has been created as a part of these studies and been used to correlate the settlement patterns in the valley. These are being combined with the geomorphologic analysis and remote sensing data to determine any correlations between changes in the valley against ground truthed sites. These include studies of boulder trains found in relict river channels lying above the elevation of the existing Göksu River. Preliminary geologicla mapping and remote sensing have determeined several controls on errosion and deposition patterns. The proccesses observed in the field may be used as corresponding evidence for similar regions where modern-day desertificiation and deforestation are occuring.