Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-s2hrs Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-20T02:38:05.514Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

AMS-dated mollusks in beach ridges and berms document Holocene sea-level and coastal changes in northeastern Kuwait Bay

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 January 2017

Linda M. Reinink-Smith
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

In northeastern Kuwait, ancient beach ridges and associated berms are separated from the present shoreline by a 4–6 km-wide sabkha. A diverse mollusk fauna in the beach ridges attests to a former open marine environment. A total of 21 AMS dates were obtained in this study. Thirteen mollusk samples from beach ridges yielded AMS dates ranging from ~ 6990 cal yr BP in the southeast to ~ 3370 cal yr BP in the northwest, suggesting a southeast to northwest age progression during the Holocene transgression. In contrast, four samples from berms throughout the study area yielded AMS dates of 5195–3350 cal yr BP showing no age progression; these berms consist largely of Conomurex persicus gastropods that aggregated by storms during a highstand at ~ 5000–3500 cal yr BP. The berms are presently at ~ + 6 m above sea level, 2–3 m above the beach ridges. Human settlements were common on the ridge crests before and after the highstand. Regression to present-day sea level commenced after the highstand, which is when the sabkha began forming. A landward, marine-built terrace, which yielded AMS dates > 43,500 14C yr BP, probably formed during Marine Oxygen Isotope Stage 5e and hence is not genetically related to the beach ridges.

Keywords

Beach ridgesHolocene transgressionAMS datingSea levelMollusksConomurex persicusArcheologyKuwait
Type
Articles
Information
Quaternary Research , Volume 84 , Issue 2 , September 2015 , pp. 200 - 213
Copyright
University of Washington

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Al-Asfour, T.A. The marine terraces of the Bay of Kuwait Brice, W.C. The Environmental History of the Near and Middle East since the Last Ice Age 1978 Academic Press London 245–254 Google Scholar
Al-Asfour, T.A. Changing Sea-Level along the North Coast of Kuwait Bay, Keagan Paul International 1982 Boston and Melbourne in association with Kuwait University London (186 pp.)Google Scholar
Al-Farraj, A. An evolutionary model for sabkha development on the north coast of the UAE J. Arid Environ. 63 2005 740–755 CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Al-Khalidi, M.A. Tayfun, M.A. Al-Mershed, A.B. Tidal recirculation of a marina: a case study in Kuwait Bay Kuwait. J. Sci. Eng. 38 1B 2011 1–17 Google Scholar
Al-Ruwaih, F.M. Hadi, K.M. Shehata, M. Geological, geochemical and hydrogeological investigation of Miocene-Pleistocene aquifer. Kuwait Emirates J. Engine. Res. 12 12 2007 95–107 Google Scholar
Alsharhan, A.S. Kendall, C.G.St.C. Holocene coastal carbonates and evaporites of the southern Arabian Gulf and their ancient analogues Earth Sci. Rev. 61 2003 191–243 CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Alsharhan, A.S. Nairn, A.E.M. Tertiary of the Arabian Gulf: sedimentology and hydrocarbon potential Palaeogeogr. Palaeooclimatol. Palaeoecol. Neth. 114 1995 369–384 CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Alsharhan, A.S. Glennie, K.W. Whittle, G.L. Kendall, C.G.St.C. Quaternary deserts and climatic change Balkema, A.A. Proceedings of the International Conference on Quaternary deserts and climate change/ Al Ain/ United Arab Emirates, 9-11 December 1995 1998 621 Google Scholar
Al-Yamani, F.Y. Skryabin, V. Boltachova, N. Revkov, N. Makarov, M. Grintsov, V. Kolesnikova, E. Illustrated Atlas on the Zoobenthos of Kuwait 2012 Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research (382 pp.)Google Scholar
Al-Zamel, A.Z. Geology and oceanography of recent sediments of Jazirat Bubiyan and Ras As-Sabiyah, Kuwait, Arabian Gulf Unpublished Ph.D. thesis University of Sheffield, Sheffield 1983 274 ppGoogle Scholar
Al-Zamel, A.Z. Occurrence and Age of Submarine Peat in the Euphratres—Tigris delta 1985 SEPM Midyear meeting, Golden Colorado, U.S.A. 4 (Abstracts)Google Scholar
Aqrawi, A.A.M. Stratigraphic signatures of climatic change during the Holocene evolution of the Tigris-Euphrates delta, lower Mesopotamia Glob. Planet. Chang. 28 2001 267–283 CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Basson, P.W. Burchard, J.E. Hardy, J.T. Price, A.R.T. Biotopes of the Western Arabian Gulf 1977 Aramco Ltd. Dhahran (284 pp)Google Scholar
Bernier, P. Dalongeville, R. Dupuis, B. de Medvecki, V. Holocene shoreline variations in the Persian Gulf: example of Um Al Qiwen lagoon (UAE) Quat. Int. 29 30 1995 95–103 CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Berry, A.J. Predator prey interactions and coupled annual cycles in the coastal gastropods Umbonium vestiarium L. Trochacea and natica maculosa lamarck naticidae Asian Mar. Biol. 7 1990 109–114 Google Scholar
Bosch, D.T. Bosch, E. Seashells of Southern Arabia 1989 Motivate Publishing (95 pp.)Google Scholar
Bosch, D.T. Dance, P.S. Moolenbeek, R.G. Oliver, P.G. Seashells of Eastern Arabia, Dance, S.P. 1995 Motivate Publishing (296 pp.)Google Scholar
Bruthans, J. Filippi, M. Geršl, M. Zare, M. Melková, J. Pazdur, A. Bosák, P. Holocene marine terraces on two salt diapirs in the Persian Gulf, Iran: age, depositional history and uplift rates J. Quat. Sci. 21 8 2006 843–857 CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Carter, R. Ubaid-period boat remains from As-Sabiyah: excavations by the British Archaeological Expedition to Kuwait. Proceedings of the Seminar for Arabian Studies 32 2002 13–30 Google Scholar
Carter, R. The Neolithic origins of seafaring in the Arabian Gulf Archaeol. Int. 2002 2003 2003 44–47 Google Scholar
Carter, R. Crawford, H.E.W. The Kuwait-British archaeological expedition to As-Sabiyah: report on the second season's work Iraq LXIII 2001 1–20 CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Carter, R. Crawford, H.E.W. The Kuwait-British archaeological expedition to As-Sabiyah:Report on the third season's work Iraq LXIV 2002 1–13 CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Carter, R. Crawford, H.E.W. The Kuwait-British archeological expedition to As-Sabiyah: report on the fourth season's work Iraq LXV 2003 77–90 CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Carter, R. Philips, G. Deconstructing the Ubaid Carter, A. Philips, G. Beyond the Ubaid, transformation and integration in the late prehistoric societies of the Middle East. Papers from The Ubaid expansion? Cultural meaning, identity and the lead-up to urbanism. International workshop held at Grey College, University of Durham, April, 2006, Studies in ancient oriental civilizations 63 2010 20–22 Google Scholar
Carter, R. Crawford, H. Mellalieu, S. Barrett, D. The Kuwait-British archeological expedition to As-Sabiyah: report on the first season's work Iraq LXI 1999 43–58 CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Chave, K.E. Skeletal durability and preservation Imbrie, J. Newell, N. Approaches to Paleoecology 1964 Wiley & Sons New York 377–387 Google Scholar
Driscoll, E.G. Weltin, T.P. Sedimentary parameters as factors in abrasive shell reduction Palaeogeogr. Palaeoclimatol. Palaeoecol. 13 1973 275–288 CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Duane, M.J. Reinink-Smith, L. Eastoe, C. Al-Mishwat, A.T. Mud volcanoes and evaporate seismites in a tidal flat of northern Kuwait—implications for fluid flow in sabkhas of the Persian (Arabian) Gulf Geo-Mar. Lett. 2015 http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00367-015-0403-9CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Fishelson, L. Marine animal assemblages along the littoral of the Israeli Mediterranean seashore: the Red–Mediterranean Seas communities of species Ital. J. Zool. 67 2000 393–415 CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Glayzer, B.A. Glayzer, D.T. Smythe, K.R. The marine mollusc of Kuwait, Arabian Gulf J. Conchol. 31 1984 311–330 Google Scholar
Gofas, S. Le Renard, J. Bouchet, P. Mollusca Costello, M.J. et al. European register of marine species: a check-list of the marine species in Europe and a bibliography of guides to their identification. Collection Patrimoines Naturels 50 2001 180–213 Google Scholar
Gunatilaka, A. Kuwait and the northern Arabian Gulf: a study in Quaternary sedimentation Episodes 9 4 1986 223–231 CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Heaton, T.J. Blackwell, P.G. Buck, C.E. A Bayesian approach to the estimation of radiocarbon calibration curves: the IntCal09 methodology Radiocarbon 51 4 2009 1151–1164 CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Heyvaert, V.M.A. Baeteman, C. Holocene sedimentary evolution and palaeocoastlines of the Lower Khuzestan plain (southwest Iran) Mar. Geol. 242 1 2007 83–108 CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Jameson, J. Strohmenger, C. Late Pleistocene to Holocene sea-level history of Qatar: Implications for eustasy and tectonics, AAPG Search and Discovery Article #90142, AAPG Annual Convention and Exhibition, Long Beach, California, abstract 2012 Google Scholar
Jones, D.A. A Field Guide to the Sea Shores of Kuwait and the Arabian Gulf 1986 University of Kuwait, Blandford Press Dorset (192 pp.)Google Scholar
Kalyanasundaram, N. Ganti, S.S. Karande, A.A. The habit and the habitat-selection by Umbonium vestiarium L Proceedings of the Indian Academy of Science B38 1974 273–287 Google Scholar
Kassler, P. The Structural and Geomorphic Evolution of the Persian Gulf Purser, B.H. 1973 Persian Gulf, Springer Berlin 11–32 Google Scholar
Kendall, C.G.St.C. Lakshmi, V. Althausen, J. Alsharhan, A.S. Changes in microclimate tracked by evolving vegetation cover of the Holocene beach ridges of the United Arab Emirates Alsharhan, A.S. Wood, W.W. Goudie, A.S. Fowler, A. Abdellatif, E.M. Desertification in the Third Millenium Swets and Zeitlinger Publishers 2003 Lisse The Netherlands 91–98 Google Scholar
Kennett, D.J. Kennett, J.P. Influence of Holocene marine transgression and climate change on cultural evolution in southern Mesopotamia Anderson, D.G. Maasch, K.A. Sandweiss, D.H. Climate change and cultural dynamics: a global perspective on mid-Holocene Transitions 2007 229–263 Google Scholar
KFUPM/RI, Final Report: Aramco Sustaining Research Project–Environmental Studies Overview Summary and Conclusions. Prepared for Saudi Aramco by the Water Resources and Environment Division. Research Institute I 1990 King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals Dhahran,Saudi Arabia (Report Project No. 24079)Google Scholar
Khalaf, F.I. Quaternary calcareous hard rocks and associated sediments in the intertidal and offshore zones of Kuwait Mar. Geol. 80 1988 1–27 CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Khalaf, F.I. Ala, M. Mineralogy of the recent intertidal muddy sediments of Kuwait, Arabian Gulf Mar. Geol. 359 1980 331–342 CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Kirkham, A. Shoreline evolutions, aeolian deflation and anhydrite distribution of the Holocene, Abu Dhabi GeoArabia 2 4 1997 403–416 CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Kirkham, A. Pleistocene carbonate seif dunes and their role in the development of complex past and present coastlines of the UAE GeoArabia 3 1998 19–31 CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Kopp, R.E. Simons, F.J. Mitrovica, J.X. Maloof, A.C. Oppenheimer, M. Probabilistic assessment of sea level during the last interglacial stage Nature 462 2009 863–867 CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Kotler, E. Martin, R.E. Liddell, W.D. Abrasion-resistance of modern reef-dwelling foraminifera from Discovery Bay, Jamaica—implications for test preservation Bain, R.J. Gerace, D.T. Proceedings of the fifth symposium on the geology of the Bahamas Bahamian Field Station, San Salvador, Bahamas 1991 125–137 Google Scholar
Kucheruk, N.V. Basin, A.B. Lessepsian migrant Strombus persicus bottom community—new one for eastern Mediterranean. Abstracts of the International Conference on Oceanography of the Eastern Mediterranean and Black Sea Similarities and differences of two interconnected basins Athens 23-26 February 1999 1999 244 Google Scholar
Lambeck, K. Shoreline reconstructions for the Persian Gulf since the last glacial maximum Earth Planet. Sci. Lett. 142 1996 43–57 CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Lawler, A. Archeology: report of oldest boat hints at early trade routes Science 296 2002 1791–1792 CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Lo, J.-M. Tayfun, M.A. Al-Salem, K. Al-Hulail, F. Tidal Flow and Sediment Conditions at the Southwest Corner of the Shuwaikh Port 2003 Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research (Final Report No. EC007C)Google Scholar
Martinson, D.G. Pisias, N.G. Hays, J.D. Imbrie, J. Moore, T.C. Shackleton, N.J. Age dating and the orbital theory of the ice ages: development of a high-resolution 0 to 300,000-year chronostratigraphy Quat. Res. 27 1987 1–29 CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Milton, D.I. Geology of the Arabian Peninsula Kuwait Geol. Surv. Prof. Pap. 560-F 1967 F1–F7 Google Scholar
Mukhopadhyay, A. Al-Sulaimi, J. Al-Awadi, E. Al-Ruwaih, F. An overview of the Tertiary geology and hydrogeology of the northern part of the Arabian Gulf region with a special reference to Kuwait Earth Sci. Rev. 40 1996 259–295 CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Nolte, A.J. Boon, J.G. Vatvani, D.K. Study on sedimentation and water quality problems in Sulaibikhat Bay Technical report prepared by Delft Hydraulic Institute, the Netherlands, for the Environment Public Authority, Kuwait 2004 Google Scholar
Newsletter, P.C.M.A. The fifth season of Kuwait-Polish archeological explorations in northern Kuwait-autumn 2010. The Bahra 1 settlement site, The Ancient World Online. Open Access Journal: Newsletter of the Polish Centre of Mediterranean Archeology of the University of Warsaw (PCMA) http://ancientworldonline.blogspot.com/2012/07/open-acces-journal-newsletter-of-polish.html 2010 Google Scholar
Otvos, E.G. Beach ridges—definitions and significance Geomorphology 32 1-2 2000 83–108 CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Parker, A.G. Goudie, A.S. Geomorphological and palaeoenvironmental investigations in the southeastern Arabian Gulf region and implications for the archeology of the region Geomorphology 101 2008 458–470 CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Pascucci, V. Sechi, V. Andreucci, S. Middle Pleistocene to Holocene coastal evolution of NW Sardinia (Mediterranean Sea, Italy) Quat. Int. 328–329 2014 3–20 CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Patterson, R.J. Kinsman, D.J.J. Hydrologic framework of a sabkha along Arabian Gulf Am. Assoc. Pet. Geol. Bull. 65 1981 1457–1475 Google Scholar
Pedoja, K. Husson, L. Regard, V. Cobbold, P.R. Ostanciaux, E. Johnson, M.E. Kershaw, S. Saillard, M. Martinod, J. Furgerot, L. Weill, P. Delcaillau, B. Relative sea-level fall since the last interglacial stage: are coasts uplifting worldwide? Earth Sci. Rev. 108 2011 1–15 CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Pedoja, K. Husson, L. Johnson, M.E. Melnick, D. Witt, C. Pocjat, S. Nexer, M. Delcaillau, B. Pinegina, T. Poprawski, Y. Authemayou, C. Elliot, M. Regard, V. Garestier, F. Coastal staircase sequences reflecting sea-level oscillations and tectonic uplift during the Quaternary and Neogene Earth Sci. Rev. 132 2014 13–38 CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Perg, L.A. Anderson, R.S. Finkel, R.C. Use of a new 10Be and 26Al inventory method to date marine terraces, Santa Cruz, California, USA Geology 29 2001 879–882 2.0.CO;2>CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Pícha, F. Saleh, A.A.M. Quaternary sediments in Kuwait Kuwait Journal of Science 4 1977 169–184 J.R., Marshlands of Cities: Deltaic Landscapes and the Evolution of Early Mesopotamian Civilization 2003 University of California San Diego (Doctoral dissertation, 315 pp)Google Scholar
Pirazzoli, P.A. Marine Terraces Scheartz, M.L. Encyclopedia of Coastal Science 2005 Springer, New York New York 632–633 Google Scholar
Pournelle, J.R. Marshlands of Cities: Deltaic Landscapes and the Evolution of Early Mesopotamian Civilization 2003 University of California San Diego (Doctoral dissertation, 315 pp)Google Scholar
Pugh, D.T. Tides, Surges, and Mean Sea Level 1987 John Wiley and Sons (472 pp.)Google Scholar
Ramsey, B.C. Radiocarbon calibration and analysis of stratigraphy: the OxCal program Radiocarbon 37 2 1995 425–430.D CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Ramsey, B.C. Development of the radiocarbon program OxCal Radiocarbon 43 2A 2001 355–363 CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Reda, A.A. A Reconnaissance Study of a Clastic Coastal Sabkha, Bahra Area, Northern Kuwait 1986 Kuwait University (M.S. thesisn, 245 pp.)Google Scholar
Reimer, P.J. Baillie, M.G.L. Bard, E. Bayliss, A. Beck, J.W. Bertrand, C.J.H. Blackwell, P.G. Buck, C.E. Burr, G.S. Cutler, K.B. Damon, P.E. Edwards, R.L. Fairbanks, R.G. Friedrich, M. Guilderson, T.P. Hogg, A.G. Hughen, K.A. Kromer, B. McCormac, G. Manning, S. Ramsey, C.B. Reimer, R.W. Remmele, S. Southon, J.R. Stuiver, M. Talamo, S. Taylor, F.W. van der Plicht, J. Weyhenmeyer, C.E. IntCal04 terrestrial radiocarbon age calibration, 0-26 cal kyr BP Radiocarbon 46 3 2004 1029–1058 Google Scholar
Reimer, P.J. Bard, E. Bayliss, A. Beck, J.W. Blackwell, P.G. Ramsey, C.B. Buck, C.E. Cheng, H. Edwards, R.L. Friedrich, M. Grootes, P.M. Guilderson, T.P. Haflidason, H. Hajdas, I. Hatté, C. Heaton, T.J. Hoffmann, D.L. Hogg, A.G. Hughen, K.A. Kaiser, K.F. Kromer, B. Manning, S.W. Niu, M. Reimer, R.W. Richards, D.A. Scott, E.M. Southon, J.R. Staff, R.A. Turney, C.S.M. van der Plicht, J. IntCal13 and Marine13 radiocarbon age calibration curves, 0-50,000 years cal BP Radiocarbon 55 4 2013 1869–1887 CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Rosenberg, G. Conomurex persicus . Accessed through: World Register of Marine Species at http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=565371 2014 (on 2014-11-13)Google Scholar
Saleh, A. Al-Ruwaih, F. Al-Reda, A. Gunatilaka, A. A reconnaissance study of a clastic coastal sabkha in northern Kuwait, Arabian Gulf J. Arid Environ. 43 1999 1–19 CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Sanlaville, P. The deltaic complex of the lower Mesopotamian plain and its evolution through millennia Emma Nicholson, E. Peter Clark, P. The Iraqi Marshlands 2003 Politico's Publishing London 133–150 Google Scholar
Sanlaville, P. Dalongeville, R. L'évolution des espaces littoraux du Golfe Persique et du Golfe d'Oman depuis la Phase finale de la transgression post-glaciaire Paléorient 31 2005 9–26 CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Sharabati, D. Red Sea Shells 1984 KPI Limited London (127 pp.)Google Scholar
Shennan, I. Horton, B. Holocene land- and sea-level changes in Great Britain J. Quat. Sci. 17 5-6 2002 511–526 CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Southon, J. Kashgarian, M. Fontugne, M. Metivier, B. Yim, W.W.-S. Marine reservoir corrections for the Indian Ocean and Southeast Asia Radiocarbon 44 2002 167–180 CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Stein, G. Economy, ritual, and power in Ubaid Mesopotamia. Prehistory Press Monogr. World Archeol. 18 1994 35–46 Google Scholar
Streftaris, N. Zenetos, A. Papathanassiou, E. Globalisation in marine ecosystems: the story of non-indigenous marine species across European seas Oceanogr. Mar. Biol. Annu. Rev. 43 2005 419–454 Google Scholar
Talma, A.S. Vogel, J.C. A simplified approach to calibrating C14 dates Radiocarbon 35 2 1993 317–322 CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Tanoli, S.K. Al-Fares, A. Al-Sahlan, G. The Enjefa Beach exposure in Kuwait, Northern Gulf: Evidence of Late Holocene regression. Search and Discovery article #50602 adapted from poster presentation at GEO-2012, 10th Middle East Geosciences Conference and Exhibition, Manama, Bahrain, March 4-7, 2012 2012 Google Scholar
Teller, J.T. Glennie, K.W. Lancaster, N. Singhvi, A.K. Calcareous dunes of the United Arab Emirates and Noah's Flood: the post-glacial reflooding of the Persian (Arabian) Gulf Quat. Int. 68–71 2000 297–308 CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Uchupi, E. Swift, S.A. Ross, D.A. Gas venting and late Quaternary sedimentation in the Persian (Arabian) Gulf Mar. Geol. 129 1996 237–269 CrossRefGoogle Scholar
UNEP/IUCN, Coral Reefs of The world. Volume 2: Indian Ocean, Red Sea and Gulf 1988 UNEP Regional Seas Directories and Bibliographies. IUCN, Gland Switzerland and Cambridge, UK/UNEP, Nairobi, Kenya (389 pp.)Google Scholar
Vincent, P. Saudi Arabia: An Environmental Overview 2008 Taylor & Francis e-Library (309 pp)Google Scholar
Weijermars, R. Quaternary evolution of Dawhat Zulum (half moon bay) region eastern province, Saudi Arabia GeoArabia 4 1999 71–89 Google Scholar
Williams, A.H. Walkden, G.M. Late Quaternary highstand deposits of the southern Arabian Gulf: a record of sea-level and climate change Clift, P.D. et al. The tectonic and climatic evolution of the Arabian Sea region Geological Society Special Publication 195 2002 371–386 CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Wood, W.W. Bailey, R.M. Hampton, B.A. Kraemer, T.F. Lu, Z. Clark, D.W. James, R.H.R. Al Ramadan, K. Rapid late Pleistocene/Holocene uplift and coastal evolution of the southern Arabian (Persian) Gulf Quat. Res. 77 2012 215–220 CrossRefGoogle Scholar
World Register of Marine Species http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=565371 2014 (on 2014-11-13)Google Scholar
Zaghloul, N.A. Al-Mutairi, B.L. Water harvesting of urban runoff in Kuwait, Transaction A Civ.Eng. Res. Note 17 3 2010 236–243 Google Scholar
Zuschin, M. Stanton, R.J. Jr. Experimental measurement of shell strength and its taphonomic interpretation Palaios 16 2001 161–170 2.0.CO;2>CrossRefGoogle Scholar