Field Course 2

Knowledge Deepening / Consolidation

The course is also offered to exchange programme students.

1) To acquire fieldwork experience. 2) To recognize the landforms and natural environments of Greece 3) To familiarize with the natural processes that shape the relief of Greece 4) To appreciate the complexity of the Greek natural ecosystems 5) To link the human presence with the geomorphological and environmental evolution of the landscape. 6) To understand the geomorphology and environment of Central Greece and the Peloponnese. 7) To get in direct contact and study of different modern/active aquatic environments (springs, lakes, lagoons, swamps, shallow sea, etc.) in which modern organisms live, similar to fossils found by a Geologist. To understand modern biodiversity of these environments and their reflection and imprint on the fossil fauna of their respective paleoenvironments 8) To visit various fossiliferous sites, collecting fossils that characterize Paleo-environments and different geological periods, and understanding how fossils appear in sediments and sedimentary sequences. 9) To understand the geological and geographical distribution of fossil assemblages of different ages and paleoenvironments in Greece and how they relate to different depositional environments, where specific sediments are deposited. 10) To acquire the skills and experience in sampling fossils of various (paleo)environments, as well as to understand the contribution of Paleontological research results to the solution of (paleo)environmental, (paleo)climatic, stratigraphical as well as archaeological problems/questions.

Day 1 Thessaloniki - Lamia Thessaloniki - Tempi - Larissa - Kalampaka - Xyniada Basin - Lamia Points of Interest along the way • Thessaloniki Plain, Brief History of the geomorophological evolution during the Holocene, Giannitsa Lake, Drainage Works of 1930’s. • Litochoro, Mount Olympus alluvial fans, torrential incision, Mount Olympus uplift. • Pyrgetos, Fluvial Terraces of Pinios River, Pinios River Delta plain. Tempi, epigenetic valley, geomorphological evolution of the valley, river terraces, karst solution, karstic water table, karstic springs, freshwater invertebrates • Basin of Thessaly, Meteora, formation, sediment deposition, erosion Antinitsa Monastery Fossil Cretaceous limestones, shallow / deep sea sediments - Radiolarites • Road sections to Lamia, Ophioliths / adjacent deep sea sediments • Staying overninght in Lamia. Day 2 Lamia Lamia - Gorgopotamos - Thermopylae - Agia Paraskevi - Lamia • Lamia Archaeological Museum. Guided Tour - briefing on the presence of prehistoric man in the area. Panorama and geomorphology of the area. • Agia Paraskevi, Prehistoric Settlement, Geoarchaeological Research Methods, Holocene Stratigraphy, Paleontology, mollusks of fresh - brackish - marine waters, Paleogeographical - Paleoenvironmental evolution of the area. • Gorgopotamos, Gorge exit, Gorgopotamos railway bridge, Tectonic uplift of Mt. Oiti, channel incision. • Thermopylae, Thermal springs, Thermopylae – Sperchios falt zone, chemical deposits (travertine), modern sedimentation, Visit to the Thermopylae battlefield, Paleogeographic evolution of the area. • Return to Lamia • Staying overninght in Lamia Day 3 Lamia - Nea Kios Lamia - Arkitsa - Kastro - Kopaida - Aliartos - Thebes - Erythres - Mandra - Megara - Kakia Skala - Corinth Isthmus - Kechrees - Isthmia - Argos - Nea Kios Points of Interest along the way • Arkitsa, Falt Mirror • Kastro - Copaida - Aliartos, karstic geomorphology, Poljie, Ancient Minyans, Ancient Glas fortified Acropolis, drainage of Kopaida Lake, Karst phenomena, sinkholes. • Corinth Canal, canal construction, fossil geological layers, fossil collection and identification. • Posidonia, elevation of tectonic rocks. • Kechrees, Submerged ancient harbor due to active tectonics. • Arrival in Nea Kios. • Nea Kios Environmental Education Center, information on the educational activities of the center. • Staying overninght in Nea Kios. 4th day New Kios Nea Kios - Mycenae - Epidaurus Asklepieion - Ancient Theater – Ligourio Natural History Museum - Nea Kios • Nea Kios beach, sampling methods for the study of invertebrates and foraminifera, environmental - paleoenvironmental indicators • Mycenae, Mycenaean Dam, fluvial geomorphology • Mycenaean Acropolis, Lion Gate rift, Cyclopean walls construction materials. • Ligourio - Natural History Museum. • Epidaurus Asklepieion. Fossiliferous limestone with ammonites. • Return to Nea Kios. • Staying overninght in Nea Kios. 5th day Nea Kios - Mesolongi Nea Kios - Dervenakia - Corinth - Diakofto - Rack railway - Kalavryta - Diakofto - Rio Antirio Bridge - Antirrio - Mesolongi - Klisova - Mesolongi. • Dervenakia, narrow morphology, fossil limestones with Nummulites • Acrocorinth, morphology • Active tectonis and uplifted sediments of the Northern Peloponnese • Diakofto Village, Boarding on the rack railway, Route to the Vouraikos River Gorge, river incision, channel knick points. • Kalavryta - Diakofto, (by bus), Vouraikos valley morphology • Rio-Antirio Cable-stayed Bridge, Geological conditions and construction problems • Klisova Lagoon, importance – function of the lagoon, invertebrate fauna found. • Staying overninght in Mesolongi 6th day Mesolongi - Thessaloniki Messolongi - Amfilochia - Filippiada - Kokkinopilos - Agios Georgios - Louros River Valley - Ioannina - EGNATIA street - Thessaloniki • Aetoliko lagoon, lagoon circulation, anoxic conditions • Lakes Ozeros, Amvrakia • Amphilochia - Amvrakikos Bay, Beaches and Cliff coasts • Red-clay, Bad-lands • St. George, Karstic Springs, Roman Aqueduct of Nicopolis • Louros River Valley Arrival to Thessaloniki

Geomorphology, Physical Geography, Paleontology, Environment, Ecosystems

09-03-2020