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The effects of recent storms on the exposed coastline of Tocra

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  03 March 2015

Paul Bennett
Affiliation:
Canterbury Archaeological Trust, Canterbury, UK
Andrew Wilson
Affiliation:
Institute of Archaeology, Oxford, UK
Ahmed Buzaian
Affiliation:
University of Garyunis, Benghazi and Omar Mukhtar University, al-Beida, Libya
Alette Kattenberg
Affiliation:
Institute of Geo- and Bioarchaeology, Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam and Amsterdam Archaeological Centre, Universiteit van Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

Abstract

This paper, prepared at the request of the Department of Antiquities of Benghazi, reports on severe erosion of the exposed seaward escarpment of the ancient site of Tocra after recent winter storms. A brief measured survey by the authors and comparison with a plan of the site made in 1966, demonstrated that up to 20 m of the coastline has been lost in 40 years. A photographic survey made at the same time records a number of new discoveries, exposed as a consequence of increasing erosion of the escarpment.

The authors believe that continuing annual erosion of the seaward facing part of the town is a serious problem requiring urgent action by the highest authorities.

Type
Articles
Copyright
Copyright © Society for Libyan Studies 2004

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References

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