Paleoclimatic Reconstruction Based On Multi-Proxy Data Obtained From The Lake Sediments In Aşağı Pınar Region (Kırklareli, Türkiye): Preliminary Results

Yıl 2025, Sayı: 51, 146 - 158, 31.12.2025

Özlem Yurtseven Uyar , Hüseyin Turoglu , Ahmet Evren Erginal , Nurettin Yakupoğlu

https://doi.org/10.26650/JGEOG2025-1759348

https://izlik.org/JA39XY78BP

Öz

The uncertainties of the paleoclimatic conditions and changing characteristics of Eastern Thrace, due to its remarkable geographical location serving as a stage for inter-regional interaction and its importance for cultural history, remain a critical area of scholarly investigation. While analytical research on this topic is limited, scholarly inquiry into past climatic features based on multi-element and mineral analyses and their proportional distributions, organic carbon, and CaCO3 analyses is conspicuously absent from the current literature. This study aims to examine the geochemical indicators of an ancient lake sediment sequence located in the Aşağı Pınar region, 5 km south of the city centre of Kırklareli (Türkiye), to reconstruct the past climatic features and changes in the region.

To do so, the sedimentary geometry and suitable drilling location of the proxy trap containing the sedimentary data of this paleoenvironment were determined using the electrical resistivity tomography (ERT) method. A total of 147 samples of the drill core are analysed using CaCO3(%), TOC (%), X-ray diffraction (XRD) as well as inductive coupling plasma–mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). The distinct samples at the reference level were examined through AMS14C dating.

The results revealed that rainy and dry periods are defined based on the fluctuations across mineral composition, multi-element analyses, and index calculations; further, the geochemical data yield five different periods characterised by distinctive temperature and humidity conditions. The radiocarbon dating results that the analysed sedimentation was dated between 36,854±233 years BP. Offering a novel database specific to the region, this study deepens our understanding of the region’s historical and civilizational significance.

Anahtar Kelimeler

Paleoclimate , Multi-Proxy Data , Lake Sediments , Eastern Thrace

Kaynakça

• Balthasar, U., & Cusack, M. (2015). Aragonite–calcite seas—Quantifying the grey area. Geology, 43(2): 99–102. doi: 10.1130/G36293.1 google scholar
• Billups K., Schrag, D.P. (2003). Application of benthic foraminiferal Mg/Ca ratios to questions of Caenozoic climate change. Earth and Planetary Science Letters, 209(1-2): 181-195. doi:10.1016/S0012-821X(03)00067-0 google scholar
• Birks, H. H. & Birks, H. J. B. (2006). Multi-proxy studies in palaeolimnology. Vegetation History and Archaeobotany, 15: 235-251. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00334-006-0066-6 google scholar
• Blaauw M. (2010). Methods and code for ‘classical’age-modelling of radiocarbon sequences. Quaternary Geochronology, 5 (5): 512-518. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.quageo.2010.01.002 google scholar
• Blaauw M. (2022). CLAM: classical age-depth modelling of cores from deposits. google scholar
• Çağatay M., Ögretmen N., Damcı E., Stockhecke M, Sancar Ü, Eriş K., Özeren S. (2014). Lake level and climate records of the last 90 ka from the Northern Basin of Lake Van, eastern Turkey. Quaternary Science Reviews, 104: 97-116. doi:10.1016/j.quascirev.2014.09.027 google scholar
• Danladi, I. B. Akçer-Ön, S., Litt, T., Ön, Z.B. & Wacker, L. (2023). A Late Holocene climate reconstruction from the high-altitude Lake Gölcük sedimentary records, Isparta (SW Anatolia). Quaternary Research. 115: 120-133. https://doi.org/10.1017/qua.2023.26 google scholar
• Dean W. (1999) - The carbon cycle and biogeochemical dynamics in lake sediments. Journal of Paleolimnology, (21): 375-393. https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1008066118210 google scholar
• Dökmeci, A. H. (2017). Ergene Nehri Havzasında ağır metal kirliliğinin halk sağlığı açısından değerlendirilmesi [Evaluation of heavy metal pollution in the Ergene River Basin from a public health perspective]. Turkish Journal of Public Health, 15(3): 212–221. https://dergipark.org.tr/en/download/article-file/399633 google scholar
• Eastwood W., Leng M., Roberts N., Davis B. (2007). Holocene climate change in the eastern Mediterranean region: a comparison of stable isotope and pollen data from Lake Gölhisar, southwest Turkey. Journal of Quaternary Science, 22 (4): 327-341. https://doi.org/10.1002/jqs.1062 google scholar
• England A., Eastwood W., Roberts C., Turner R., Haldon J. (2008). Historical landscape change in Cappadocia (central Turkey): A palaeoecological investigation of annually laminated sediments from Nar lake. The Holocene, 18 (8): 1229-1245. https://doi.org/10.1177/095968360809 google scholar
• Ekoko Eric B., Adama A., Etutu M., Njinto Kwankam F., Salomon B., Esue M. (2023) Paleoclimate characteristics of source area weathering and metallogenic implication of cretaceous black shales in the Mamfe basin, (SW Cameroon): Evidence from lithogeochemistry. Heliyon. 9(6):e17142. doi:10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e17142 google scholar
• Erginal A.E., Akbaş A., Kaya H., Çakır Ç., Karabıyıkoğlu, M. (2017). Belirteç element dağılımlarına göre Küçükçekmece Gölü’nde son 700 yıllık iklimsel salınımların izleri. Uluslararası Jeomorfoloji Sempozyumu (12-14 Ekim 2017) Bildiriler Kitabı: 649-650. Elazığ. google scholar
• Febrida R., Setianto S., Herda E., Cahyanto A., Joni I.M. (2021). Structure and phase analysis of calcium carbonate powder prepared by a simple solution method. Heliyon, 7(11): e08344. doi:10.1016/j.heliyon.2021.e08344 google scholar
• Fu F., Wang Q. (2011). Removal of heavy metal ions from wastewaters: a review. Journal of Environmental Management, 92(3): 407-418. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2010.11.011 google scholar
• Gayantha, K., Routh, J., & Chandrajith, R. (2017). A multi-proxy reconstruction of the late Holocene climate evolution in Lake Bolgoda, Sri Lanka. Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology, 473: 16-25. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.palaeo.2017.01.049 google scholar
• Gürbüz, K., Mutlu, H., Ünal, İ. E., Uysal İ.T., Zhao J.X. (2024). New paleohydroclimate record of the MIS 5e/5d transition from Yelini Cave, central Anatolian region of Türkiye. Quaternary Research, 118, 162-179. https://doi.org/10.1017/qua.2023.56 google scholar
• Gürgey, K. (2009). Geochemical overview and undiscovered gas resources generated from Hamitabat petroleum system in the Thrace Basin, Turkey. Marine and Petroleum Geology, 26(7): 1240–1254. doi:10.1016/j.marpetgeo.2008.08.007 google scholar
• Hedges, J. I., & Keil, R. G. (1995). Sedimentary organic matter preservation: an assessment and speculative synthesis. Marine Chemistry, (49/2-3), s. 81-115. google scholar
• Hu X., Wei J., Du Y., Xu L., Wang H., Zhang G., Ye W., Zhu L. (2010). Regional distribution of the Quaternary Red Clay with aeolian dust characteristics in subtropical China and its paleoclimatic implications. Geoderma, 159(3-4):317-334. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geoderma.2010.08.008 google scholar
• Inkaya, S., Caner, H., Woodbridge, J., Turoglu, H., Makineci, E., Ozturna, A. G., Avci, M. (2025). How have Mediterranean peatlands changed in response to human influence during the Late Holocene? A case study from the Gölbaşı peatlands, Türkiye. Quaternary International, 732: 109806. google scholar
• Jin Z., Cao J., Wu J., Wang S. (2006). A Rb/Sr record of catchment weathering response to Holocene climate change in Inner Mongolia. Earth Surface Processes and Landforms, 3 (3): 285-291. https://doi.org/10.1002/esp.1243 google scholar
• Jin Z., Wang S., Shen J., Zhang E., Li F., Ji J., Lu X. (2001). Chemical weathering since the little ice age recorded. In: Lake sediments: a high-resolution proxy of past climate. Earth Surface Processes and Landforms, 26(7): 775-782. doi:10.1002/esp.224 google scholar
• Jones M., Roberts C. (2008). Interpreting lake isotope records of Holocene environmental change in the Eastern Mediterranean. Quaternary International, 181: 32-38. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.quaint.2007.01.012 google scholar
• Jones M., Roberts C., Leng M., Türkes M. (2006). A high-resolution late Holocene lake isotope record from Turkey and links to North Atlantic and monsoon climate. Geology, 34(5): 361-364. https://doi.org/10.1130/G22407.1 google scholar
• Kılıç N.K., Caner H., Erginal A.E., Ersin S., Selim H., Kaya H. (2018). Environmental changes based on multi-proxy analysis of core sediments in Lake Aktaş, Turkey: preliminary results Quaternary International, 486: 89-97. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.quaint.2018.02.004 google scholar
• Kıyak N., Erginal A.E. (2010). Optical Stimulated Luminescence Dating Study of Eolianite on the Island of Bozcaada, Turkey: Preliminary Results Journal of Coastal Research, 26(4): 673-680. https://doi.org/10.2112/08-1169.1 google scholar
• Kuzucuoğlu C., Dörfler W., Kunesch S., Goupille F. (2011). Mid- to late-Holocene climate change in central Turkey: The Tecer Lake record. The Holocene, 21(1): 173-188. https://doi.org/10.1177/0959683610384 google scholar
• Łachacz, A., Kalisz, B., Mendyk, Ł., Gawlik, J. (2024). Holocene lake sediments as the parent material of soil. Soil Science Annual, 75(1): 1–14 google scholar
• Leroy S., Schwab M.J., Costa P. (2010). Seismic influence on the last 1500-year infill history of Lake Sapanca (North Anatolian Fault, NW Turkey). Tectonophysics, 486: 15-27. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tecto.2010.02.005 google scholar
• Liu J., Clift P., Yan W., Chen Z., Chen H., Xiang R., Wang D. (2014). Modern transport and deposition of settling particles in the northern South China Sea: sediment trap evidence adjacent to Xisha trough, deep Sea Research Part I. Oceanographic Research Papers, 93:145-155. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dsr.2014.08.005 google scholar
• Meyers, P. A. (2003). Applications of organic geochemistry to paleolimnological reconstructions: a review. Organic Geochemistry, 34(7): 889-913. google scholar
• Minyuk P., Borkhodoev V., Wennrich V. (2014). Inorganic geochemistry data from Lake El’gygytgyn sediments: marine isotope stages 6-11. Climate of the Past, 10: 467-485. https://doi.org/10.5194/cp-10-467-2014 google scholar
• Ocakoglu F.K. (2013) - Early to Mid-Holocene Lake level and temperature records from the terraces of Lake Sünnet in NW Turkey. Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology, 369: 175-184. doi:10.1016/j.palaeo.2012.10.017 google scholar
• Özdoğan, E. (2011a). Settlement Organization and Architecture in Aşağı Pınar. Early Neolithic Layer 6. Beginnings – New Research in the Appearance of the Neolithic between Northwest Anatolia and the Carpathian Basin içinde, (Ed: Krauss R.), pp. 213-223, Verlag Marie Leidorf. google scholar
• Özdoğan, E. (2011b). Settlement Organization and Architecture in Aşağı Pınar / 2011 Beginnings - New Research in the Appearance of the Neolithic between Northwest Anatolia and the Carpathian Basin, Papers of the International Workshop 8th, 214-223, Istanbul: Verlag Marie Leidorf GmbH. google scholar
• Özdoğan, E. (2015). Current Research and New Evidence for the Neolithization Process in Western Turkey. European Journal of Archaeology, 18(1): 33-59 google scholar
• Oliva P., Viers J., Dupré b. (2003). Chemical weathering in granitic environments. Chemical Geology, 202 (3-4): 225-256. doi:10.1016/j.chemgeo.2002.08.001 google scholar
• Ries, J. B. (2005). Aragonite production in calcite seas: effect of seawater Mg/Ca ratio on the calcification and growth of the calcareous alga Penicillus capitatus. Paleobiology, 31(3): 445–458. https://doi.org/10.1666/0094-8373(2005)031[0445:APICSE]2.0.CO;2 google scholar
• Ries, J. B. (2010). Geological and experimental evidence for secular variation in seawater Mg/Ca and implications for carbonate sedimentation. Biogeosciences, 7: 2795–2849. doi:10.5194/bg-7-2795-2010 google scholar
• Roberts N., Reed J., Leng M., Kuzucuoğlu C., Fontugne M., Bertaux J., Hunt E. (2001). The tempo of Holocene climatic change in the eastern Mediterranean region: New high-resolution crater- lake sediment data from central Turkey. The Holocene, 11(6): 721-736. https://doi.org/10.1191/09596830195744 google scholar
• Roeser P., Franz S., Litt T. (2016). Aragonite and calcite preservation in sediments from Lake Iznik related to bottom lake oxygenation and water column depth. Sedimentology, 63 (7): 2253-2277. https://doi.org/10.1111/sed.12306 google scholar
• Roeser P., Franz S., Litt T., Ülgen U., Hilgers A., Wulf S., Wennrich V., Akçer Ön S., Viehberg F.A., Çağatay M.N., Melles M. (2012). Lithostratigraphic and geochronological framework for the paleoenvironmental reconstruction of the last ∼36 ka cal BP from a sediment record from Lake Iznik (NW Turkey). Quaternary International, 274: 73-87. doi:10.1016/j.quaint.2012.06.006 google scholar
• Roper, D. C. (1979). The Method and Theory of Site Catchment Analysis: A Review II. New York: Academic Press. google scholar
• Rossi C., Lozano R. (2016). Hydrochemical controls on aragonite versus calcite precipitation in cave dripwaters. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, 192: 70-96. doi:10.1016/j.gca.2016.07.021 google scholar
• Rostási Á., Rácz K., Fodor M., Topa B., Molnár Z., Weiszburg T.G.; Pósfai M. (2022). Pathways ofcarbonatesediment accumulation in a large, shallow lake. Frontiers in Science, 10: 1067105. doi:10.3389/feart.2022.1067105 google scholar
• Reimer P.J., Bard E., Bayliss A., et al. (2013). Selection and Treatment of Data for Radiocarbon Calibration: An Update to the International Calibration (IntCal) Criteria. Radiocarbon, 55(4):1923-1945. doi:10.2458/azu_js_rc.55.16955 google scholar
• Sebag, D., Debret, M., M'voubou, M., Obame, R.M., Ngomanda, A., Aslisly, R., Bentaleb, I., Disnar, J-R., Giresse, P. (2013). Coupled Rock-Eval pyrolysis and spectrophotometry for lacustrine sedimentary dynamics: Application for West Central African rainforests (Kamalété and Nguène lakes, Gabon). The Holocene, 23(8): 1173–1183. google scholar
• Schlichting, E. & Blume, H. (1966) Bodenkundliches Praktikum. Hamburg: Parey-Verlag google scholar
• Schoepfer S.D., Shen J., Wei H., Tyson R.V., Ingall E., Algeo T.J. (2015) - Total organic carbon, organic phosphorus, and biogenic barium fluxes as proxies for paleomarine productivity. Earth-Science Reviews, 149: 23-52. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.earscirev.2014.08.017 google scholar
• Schroeter, N., Toney, J., Lauterbach, S., Kalanke, J., Schwarz, A., Schouten, S. &Gleixner, G. (2020). How to Deal With Multi-Proxy Data for Paleoenvironmental Reconstructions: Applications to a Holocene Lake Sediment Record from the Tian Shan, Central Asia. Frontiers in Earth Science. 8: 353, https://doi.org/10.3389/feart.2020.00353 google scholar
• Sezen E., & Karakaş Z.S. (2025). Newly identified uranyl vanadate mineral formation in the Thrace Basin, NW Türkiye: Insights into identification and origin of carnotite and tyuyamunite minerals. Bulletin of the Mineral Research and Exploration 177: 11-22. https://doi.org/10.19111/bulletinofmre.1554734 google scholar
• Strakhovenko, V., Subetto, D., Ovdina, E., Belkina, N. & Efremenko, N. (2020). Distribution of Elements in Iron-Manganese Formations in Bottom Sediments of Lake Onego (NW Russia) and Small Lakes (Shotozero and Surgubskoe) of Adjacent Territories. Minerals, (10/5), 440 google scholar
• Stuiver, M. & Reimer, P.J. (1993). Extended 14C database and revised CALIB 3.0 14C age calibration program. Radiocarbon, 35(1): 215-230. google scholar
• Smith, H. & Weldon, M. (1941). A comparison of some methods for the determination of soil organic matter. Soil Science Society of America, 5:177-182. google scholar
• Turoğlu H. (2007). Yoncatepe (Van) Arkeolojik Sahası Paleo-Landuse Çalışmalarında Fiziki Coğrafya Verileri. Türkiye Kuvaterner Sempozyumu TURQUA (VI): 76-87. İstanbul. google scholar
• Turoğlu H. (2011). Reconstructing the paleolanduse of Urartian period for Yoncatepe Archaeologic Site (Van, Turkey). Çantay Kitabevi, İstanbul google scholar
• Turoğlu H., Caner H., Yüksel F.A., Sarı E. (2008). Erek Dağı Çevresi (Van) Paleocoğrafya Özelliklerine Ait Durgun Su Çökellerinden Üretilen Veriler. Ulusal Jeomorfoloji Sempozyumu, (p. 430- 434). Çanakkale. google scholar
• Tribovillard N., Algeo T.J., Lyons T., Riboulleau A. (2006). Trace metals as paleoredox and paleoproductivity proxies: an update. Chemical Geology, 232(1-2): 12-32. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemgeo.2006.02.012 google scholar
• Vita-Finzi, C. (1978). Archaeological Sites in Their Setting. London: Thames and Hudson. google scholar
• Vita-Finzi, C., Higgs, E., Sturdy, D.J., Tippett, H. (1970). Prehistoric Economy in the Mount Carmel Area of Palestine: Site Catchment Analysis. Proceedings of the Prehistoric Society, 36: 1-37. google scholar
• Von Gunten L., Grosjean M., Rein B., Urrutia R., Appleby P. (2009). A quantitative high-resolution summer temperature reconstruction based on sedimentary pigments from Laguna Aculeo, central Chile, back to AD 850. The Holocene, 19 (6): 873-881. https://doi.org/10.1177/0959683609336 google scholar
• Yang H., Zhao Y., Cui Q., Ren W., Li Q. (2021). Paleoclimatic indication of X-ray fluorescence core-scanned Rb/Sr ratios: A case study in the Zoige Basin in the eastern Tibetan Plateau. Science China Earth Science, 64: 80-95. doi:10.1007/s11430-020-9667-7 google scholar
• Zeng Y., Chen J., Xiao J., Qi L. (2013). Non-residual Sr of the sediments in Daihai Lake as a good indicator of chemical weathering. Quaternary Research, 79(2): 284-291. https://doi:10.1016/j.yqres.2012.11.010 google scholar