Flooded landscapes in the Lithuanian waters of the Baltic sea
ENIn Lithuanian waters, six sites with preserved relict landscapes of the Yoldia-Early Littorina periods have been found. In finding and identifying submerged palaeo-landscapes, and possible traces of prehistoric human activity, traditional methods for such research were used: acoustic surveys and diving surveys. Samples from sites with preserved relict trees were required for palaeobotanical and geochemical research for phosphorus concentration testing. Samples of rooted pine tree stumps were used to perform this original research in order to extract DNA from Scots pine, circa 11,000 years old, that were found at the bottom of the Baltic Sea, and test the genetic links with the present-day gene pool of Scots pine in Lithuania. The samples of relict trees and peat were taken from depths of 10 to 30 metres and were dated to around 11,200 to about 7,800 cal BP. They have provided more possibilities to become acquainted with features of nature in the Holocene period, changes to the climate, and fluctuations of the sea level during the Yoldia, Ancylus Lake and Littorina stages. The term ‘underwater natural heritage’ is not as familiar as it should be in Lithuania, and it is understandable that sites of relict landscapes, like natural maritime heritage, are not reliably protected at the national level. Areas with preserved relict underwater landscapes will be incorporated into the action plan for the implementation of the Maritime Spatial Planning procedure. Prehistoric settlements known in the coastal areas, and finds washed up by the sea, encourage the continuation of the search for Palaeolithic and Mesolithic settlements at the bottom of the sea. Keywords: Baltic Sea, Lithuanian waters, Flooded landscapes, Sea level fluctuations, Tree sampling, Peat sampling, Remote sensing, Diving surveys. [From the publication]
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