L'élévation séculaire des berges antiques et médiévales de Bordeaux. Étude géoarchéologique et dendrochronologique

On the banks of the Garonne River at Bordeaux, the discovery of three antique and medieval harbour platforms situated below the highest spring tide level (HWS) is witnessed to its increase of 1.10 m between the 12th and 14th centuries. It was then identified during excavations in the port of London and along the southern coast of the North Sea. In another direction, European studies suggest the consequences of such a sea level rise by identifying submerged ancient and medieval sites. This increase can be correlated to climatic oscillations, both regional and global, as has been identified by dendroclimatology. This centennial increase has not been accepted as an integral part of the curve expressing the maritime contour line over a period of thousands of years. This latter curve tends to smooth out oscillations in the order of a century and regional scale. To conclude, this medieval increase is comparable to that attested during the 20th century; this permitting a modulation of the importance of the anthropic component on the latter. To cite this article: T. Gé et al., C. R. Geoscience 337 (2005).