Coupled natural and human induced environmental history during the Holocene in Utica (Tunisia): Lipid biomarkers and metal pollution
Abstract
The coastal palaeoenvironmental conditions of Utica ancient gulf area during the Holocene were reconstructed after a multidisciplinary study to identify natural variations and the influence of anthropic processes in the environmental evolution of this coastal area. For this purpose, a ca. 15 m-deep sedimentary core formerly drilled in the surroundings were studied. Amino acid racemization in ostracode valves and previously published radiocarbon ( 14 C) datings of plant debris and charcoal were used for constructing the chronological scale using a bayesian age-model. Based on the sedimentological characteristics, lipid biomarkers and trace elements quantification both natural and anthropogenic variations were identified. The results reveal a chronological period ranging between the present and 8200 cal yr BP, in which marine and continental inputs occurred marking variations in the palaeoenvironmental conditions, being able to differentiate 2 units each one with 3 subunits (A1-A3; B1-B3). The human influence since the Chalcolithic, being noticeable during Phoenician and Roman times was also observed in the geological record. Lead, copper, zinc and silver concentrations along the sedimentary record revealed that the influence of anthropogenic factors predominated over lithogenic processes in the last three millennia, particularly linked to mining activities in the area especially in Phoenician times, with an important decrease after the conquest by Romans. In addition, the presence of faecal stanols, such as coprostanol, revealed the presence of human populations in the area since ca. 4200 cal yr BP, before the city of Utica was founded.
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BibTeX
@article{lopezcilla2026coupled,
title = {{Coupled natural and human induced environmental history during the Holocene in Utica (Tunisia): Lipid biomarkers and metal pollution}},
author = {Ignacio López-Cilla and José E Ortiz and Trinidad Torres and José Luis López Castro and Yolanda Sánchez-Palencia and Jean-Philippe Goiran and Elisa Pleuger and Imed Ben Jerbania and Ahmed Gadhoum and Susana Carpintero and Carlos Boente and Santiago Romero and Hugo Delile},
journal = {Marine Pollution Bulletin},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.1016/j.marpolbul.2026.119783},
url = {https://hal.science/hal-05785373v1},
note = {CC BY-NC-ND 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Coupled natural and human induced environmental history during the Holocene in Utica (Tunisia): Lipid biomarkers and metal pollution
AU - Ignacio López-Cilla
AU - José E Ortiz
AU - Trinidad Torres
AU - José Luis López Castro
AU - Yolanda Sánchez-Palencia
AU - Jean-Philippe Goiran
AU - Elisa Pleuger
AU - Imed Ben Jerbania
AU - Ahmed Gadhoum
AU - Susana Carpintero
AU - Carlos Boente
AU - Santiago Romero
AU - Hugo Delile
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/08
JO - Marine Pollution Bulletin
DO - 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2026.119783
UR - https://hal.science/hal-05785373v1
AB - The coastal palaeoenvironmental conditions of Utica ancient gulf area during the Holocene were reconstructed after a multidisciplinary study to identify natural variations and the influence of anthropic processes in the environmental evolution of this coastal area. For this purpose, a ca. 15 m-deep sedimentary core formerly drilled in the surroundings were studied. Amino acid racemization in ostracode valves and previously published radiocarbon ( 14 C) datings of plant debris and charcoal were used for constructing the chronological scale using a bayesian age-model. Based on the sedimentological characteristics, lipid biomarkers and trace elements quantification both natural and anthropogenic variations were identified. The results reveal a chronological period ranging between the present and 8200 cal yr BP, in which marine and continental inputs occurred marking variations in the palaeoenvironmental conditions, being able to differentiate 2 units each one with 3 subunits (A1-A3; B1-B3). The human influence since the Chalcolithic, being noticeable during Phoenician and Roman times was also observed in the geological record. Lead, copper, zinc and silver concentrations along the sedimentary record revealed that the influence of anthropogenic factors predominated over lithogenic processes in the last three millennia, particularly linked to mining activities in the area especially in Phoenician times, with an important decrease after the conquest by Romans. In addition, the presence of faecal stanols, such as coprostanol, revealed the presence of human populations in the area since ca. 4200 cal yr BP, before the city of Utica was founded.
SN - 0025-326X
SN - 1879-3363
ER -