Paleo-Geomorphological Map of Alexandria PDF

International Conference on Agriculture, Science and Engineering (ICASE2013) ,
July 1-4, 2013, Federal College of Education, Umunze-Nigeria.
Paleo-geomorphological map of Alexandria site, Egypt

by using submerged archaeological and other evidences
Magdy Torab
Prof. of Geomorphology, Damanhour University, Egypt.

President of The Egyptian Society of Environmental Change.
e-mail: magdytorab@hotmail.com
Key words
Paleo-Geomorphology, Alexandria, submerged archeology, Egypt, Mediterranean
Sea.
Abstract
Several submarine archaeological survey has used to recognize characteristics of
Alexandria city remains in the eastern harbor and Abu Qir bay area, by using some
technics such as side scane sonar survey (Schwartz, 1980), eco-sound survey,
geoarchaeological settlements dating (Goddio, 1998), remote viewing, remote sensing
and sea bottom soil boring during last 50 years.
This paper aims to define paleo-geomorphological map and stability of coast line
area of Alexandria ancient city and relationship between land and sea as a result of
tectonic movements, climatic changes and human activites during last 2000 years ago,
depending upon submerged archaeological evidences during Greco-Roman and
Ptolemaic periods (http://www.cealex.org). These criteria include: local subsidence or
uplifting, relative sea-level rise (RSLR), land topography, width of lagoon barriers,
beach-face slope, high-elevated features such as coastal dunes and ridges, eroding and
accreting coastlines and ancient protection works.
1. Introduction
Alexander the Great has constructed Alexandria on the shores of the
Mediterranean Sea in 332 B.C. The city was famous in all the world for its huge
Royal Library, it is generally have been founded during the reign of Ptolemy II at the
beginning of the 3rd century BC, as well as Pharos island lighthouse (one of the
Seven Wonders of the Ancient World), it was constructed early in the Ptolemaic
period. Most of the royal and civic quarters of Alexandria city sank beneath harbor
due to earthquake subsidence, a part of the ancient city of Alexandria lies 6 to 8
meters under seawater as a result of climatic sea level rises in modern times (LA
Riche, 1979).
1.1. Objective
This paper aims to reconstruction of paleo-geomorphological map of Alexandria
city area before building it by Alexander the great on 331 BC by using submerged
archaeological and other evidences.
1.2. Previous work

The submerged archaeological sites of ancient Alexandria city have been
studied by: Empereur, 1998; Mckenzie, 2003; Ashton, 2004; and Marriner et al., 2008
& Goiran, 2001.
The Alexandria region has been the focus of numerous investigations including:
Geography (Goddio et al., 1998); Oceanography of Mediterranean Sea near
Alexandria coastline (Inman and Jenkins, 1984); Geology and paleogeography
(Warne and Stanley, 1993; Goiran, 2001); Stratigraphical analysis (Goiran et al.,
2000); Underwater Archaeological Survey by the Hellenic Institute for the
Preservation of Nautical Tradition and the Hellenic Institute for Ancient and
Mediaeval Alexandrian Studies, 2000; Sedimentological analysis (Goiran., 2001;
Stanley et al., 1996 & 2006).
1.3. Methods
Several submarine archaeological surveys have used to recognize characteristics
of Alexandria city remains in the eastern harbor to reconstruction paleo
geomorphological map of the study area by using some techniques such as:
Interpretation of remote sensing images and historical topographic maps; field
surveying; results of side scan sonar survey (Schwartz, 1980; eco-sound survey
(Empereur, 1998); Geoarchaeological settlements dating (Goddio, 1998(;
Sedimentary boring (Goiran, 2001; Stanley et al., 1996 & 2006).
2. Results and discussion:

2.1. Alexandria before Alexander:
The analytic of Alexandria harbor cores sediments have revealed that Alexander
the Great did not found the Egyptian city of Alexandria – he just rebranded it. New
geochemical data, published by (Véron et al. 2006 and Stanley & Bernasconi, 2006)
depending upon geochemical data and C14 dating of seashell fragments found in
some cores show that peaks of lead contamination in Alexandria during the Egyptian
Old Kingdom between 2686 and 2181 B.C., and again during the Iron Age, from 1000
to 800 B.C. at the end of the prosperous Ramses dynasties, it means that ancient
Alexandria was settled 4,500 years ago, more than two millennia before Alexander's
arrival. Rhakotis was the original name of the city of Alexandria.
2.2. Geographical elements of Alexandria's location:

Alexander Great has chosen this location to construction his city because of the
following factors:
2.2.1. He chooses this bay to keep Alexandia harbors from winter storms and
marine erosion (Fig.1).
2.2.2. Alexandria location lies between Mediterranean Sea and Mariut lake
(Fig.1).
2.2.3. The wind is blowing on Alexandria city most of the year from the N and
NW directions; the sea western currents transport the sediments from west to east
and inside the eastern harbor (Fig.2 & 3).
2.2.4. The ancient Canopic branch of the Nile Delta was the main source of fresh
water in Alexandria (Fig.4).
2.2.5. Pharos Island was joined to the mainland by a mole, constructed by order of
Alexander the Great (Fig.5).
2.2.6. Alexandria has been built on limestone coastal ridges with elevation
between 5-15 meters, the city constructed on the 1st and the 2nd carbonate ridges,
but most of the 1st ridge is eroded by sea waves and appear as some rocky island
and sea stacks (Fig.5, 6 &7).
2.2.7. Lake Mariut is important navigational route to the other parts of Egypt, but
the area of the lake was larger than its current area, some ancient harbors found in
the paleo shoreline of the lake (Flaux, 2011 and El Assal, 2013) (Fig.8).
Fig.1 : Location of Alexandria as a bay lies between

Mariut lake and The Mediterranean Sea
Fig.2: Seasonal wind directions of Alexandria city

(after: http://climate.umn.edu/wind/kaxn)
Fig.3: Sea currents directions inside Alexandria eastern harbor

(after: Millet & Goiran, 2007)
Fig.4: The Canopic branch was the main source of the fresh water network of
Alexandria (after: Braun and Hogen,1575)
Fig.5: Topography of Alexandria site (after Mahmoud-Bey, 1872)
Fig.6: Relationship between location of Alexandria City and the limestone coastal
ridges (after: Stanley & Hamsa, 1992)
Fig.7 : Remains of the first eroded limestone ridge

(after: Captain W.H. Smyth, 1833)
Fig.8: Relationships between Alexandria city site and limestone coastal ridges and
Paleo Mariut lake shorelines (after: Flaux, 2011)
2.3. Estimation of tectonic subsides and erosion rate of the 1st limestone ridge:
Tectonic subsides and erosion rate of the 1st limestone ridge can be estimated during
the 20th century by comparison the floor depth of Alexandria eastern and western
harbors using historical topographic (Roux, 1764) (Fig.9); (Napier, 1841) (Fig.10) ,
with current bathymetric map (El Geziry et al., 2007) (Fig.11); as well as floor depth
maps of the Alexandria eastern harbor. These maps show that the maximum depth in
the eastern harbor was 7 meters during 18th and 19th centuries (Fig. 9 &10), but it
become 10 meters during 20th century as a result of tectonic subsides and erosion
action by waves, and its rate about 3 m/100 years.
Fig.9: Floor bottom depth of Alexandria eastern and western harbors during 18th
century (after: Roux,1764)
Fig.10: Floor bottom depth of Alexandria eastern harbor during 19th century
(after: Napier, 1844)
Fig.11: Current bathymetric map of Alexandria eastern harbor

(after: El Geziry et al., 2007)
2.4. Submerged platforms of eastern harbor:
Location of submerged platforms profiles of east harbor (Fig. 12 & 13), show that the
harbor platforms become under the current mean sea level MSL between 5- 6.5 ,
although the eustatic sea level during from Roman time less than two meters
(Pirazzoli,1991), it means that the erosion rate plus tectonic subsidence were between
3 - 4.5 meters during last two centuries.
Fig.12 : Location of submerged platforms of east harbor (after: Goddio et al., 1998)
Fig.13: Bathymetric profiles on the submerged main pier of the eastern

harbor (after Goddio et al., 1998)
2.5. Tectonic subsidence:

The results of underwater excavations and side scan sonar survey (Schwartz,
1980; eco-sound survey (Empereur, 1998); Geoarchaeological settlements dating
(Goddio, 1998(; Sedimentary boring (Goiran, 2001; Stanley et al., 1996 & 2006) in
addition to comparisons with the submerged archaeological ruins in Alexandria east
harbor show that Alexandria had been the victim of subsidence. To study this specific
phenomenon, a team of geographers and marine biologists began in 1997 to examine
both underwater and in the silt deposits on either side of the Heptastadion. Some
geomorphic features were recognized from analysis the side scan surviving (Chalari et
al., 2009) (Fig.14).
Series of cores have been taken since end of the 20 century to define both
eustatic sea level change and tectonic subsidence during this period, which the earth's
crust of Alexandria eastern harbor had sunk between 6 - 8 meters.
Fig. 14: Geomorphic change due to subsidence since 331 BC

(after: Chalari et al., 2009)
2.6. Submerged shorelines:

The results of side scan surveying and dating in the Mediterranean Sea bottom in front
of Alexandria city Chalari et al., 2009) show that submerged shoreline were found in
depths 11-14 meters (5625±40Bp and 5650 ±75Bp) in addition to some submerged
scarps and ridges in depth 8 meters below MSL (Fig.15 & 16).
Fig.15 : Dating of archaeological remains near Alexandria east harbor

(After Goddio et al., 1998)
Fig. 16: Morphology of sea floor around the eastern harbor for paleo shorlines
(After: Chalari et al., 2009)
2.7. Current and Paleo geomorphological maps of Alexandria
2.7.1. The current geomorphological map
Fig. 17: Current geomorphic unites of Alexandria site

(After: Flaux, 2011)
Map symbols: 1: Pleistocene coastal ridges; 2: sandy coastal barrier; 3: NW Nile deltaic plain;
4: Egypt western desert; 5: irrigated desertic margin; 6: main basin; 7: shallow water basin; 8:
fishponds; 9: el Max saltmarsh; 10: sebkhas; 11: main canals; 12: agriculture; 13: irrigated
agriculture upon desertic margin; 14: urban/industrial area; 15: Flaux, 2011 and Stanley
1993).
2.7.2. Paleo geomorphological map for Alexandria on 331 BC
Plaeo geomorphological map for Alexandria site before construction the city on
331 BC, can be estimated by using the above results (Fig.18), it shows that there are
two submerged shorelines older than the city construction (dated about 5.6 Ka BP);
Pharos island and Agami Peninsula were greater than the current time as a part of the
1st limestone ridge; Mariut Lake were bigger than today, some interior harbors were
found in its northern beach; Alexandria eastern harbor were submerged under sea
level between 5-6.5 meters as a result of sea level change and tectonic subsidence and
the city constructed on the second carbonate ridge as separated hills.
Fig.18: Suggested paleo geomorphological of Alexandria site on 331 BC
3. Conclusion
The unique location of Alexandria site due to a several physical and human
factors, but they also suffered throughout its long history some risks including
earthquakes, tsunamis and tectonic subsidence in addition to sea level rise, which may
cause the drowned the city.
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d‟Alexandrie, Egypte : mobilité des paysages à l‟Holocène récent et évolution
des milieux portuaires antiques, Thèse de l‟Université d‟AixMarseille I-
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coastal hydro-sedimentary dynamics during the Hellenistic period:a numerical
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mass movement and submergence of ancient sites in the two harbors of
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International Conference on Agriculture, Science and Engineering (ICASE2013) ,

July 1-4, 2013, Federal College of Education, Umunze-Nigeria.

Paleo-geomorphological map of Alexandria site, Egypt

Prof. of Geomorphology, Damanhour University, Egypt.

1.2. Previous work

2. Results and discussion:

2.2. Geographical elements of Alexandria's location:

Fig.1 : Location of Alexandria as a bay lies between

Fig.2: Seasonal wind directions of Alexandria city

Fig.3: Sea currents directions inside Alexandria eastern harbor

Fig.5: Topography of Alexandria site (after Mahmoud-Bey, 1872)

Fig.7 : Remains of the first eroded limestone ridge

Fig.11: Current bathymetric map of Alexandria eastern harbor

Fig.13: Bathymetric profiles on the submerged main pier of the eastern

2.5. Tectonic subsidence:

Fig. 14: Geomorphic change due to subsidence since 331 BC

2.6. Submerged shorelines:

Fig.15 : Dating of archaeological remains near Alexandria east harbor

2.7. Current and Paleo geomorphological maps of Alexandria

2.7.1. The current geomorphological map

Fig. 17: Current geomorphic unites of Alexandria site

Fig.18: Suggested paleo geomorphological of Alexandria site on 331 BC

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