DOCSLIB.ORG

ABSTRACT GALLEN, SEAN FRANCIS. the Development of Topography in Ancient and Active Orogens: Case Studies of Landscape Evolution

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
ABSTRACT GALLEN, SEAN FRANCIS. the Development of Topography in Ancient and Active Orogens: Case Studies of Landscape Evolution ABSTRACT GALLEN, SEAN FRANCIS. The Development of Topography in Ancient and Active Orogens: Case Studies of Landscape Evolution in the Southern Appalachians, USA and Crete, Greece. (Under the direction of Karl Wegmann). Understanding the development of topography is fundamental to the geosciences. Topography represents the sum of all tectonic and geodynamic processes that force the earth’s surface upward paired with those that act to bring it down. Spatial and temporal changes in topographic relief can modulate the various feedbacks between atmospheric, earth surface and rock exhumation processes, sediment flux, and the magnitude and style of gravity driven natural hazards. Plate tectonics provides the first-order framework necessary to understand how topography is built through the interaction of lithospheric plates. However, density contrasts in the mantle can also influence the elevation of the earth’s surface through dynamic topography, while poorly understood nuances of mountain building at convergent margins complicate drawing direct connections between tectonics and topography. Such linkages are further confounded by non-linearity between rock uplift and erosion, variations in rates of deformation, changes in climate and the properties of bedrock. Great advances in our understanding of the evolution of topography have been achieved, yet numerous questions remain regarding the evolution of topography in ancient and active orogens. This research addresses knowledge gaps in the development of topography through case- studies of landscape evolution in the southern Appalachians Mountains, USA and the forearc overlying the Hellenic subduction zone. Chapter 1 explores the origins of modern topographic relief in the southern Appalachians, where tectonic activity ceased prior to 200 Ma. Conventional theories invoked to explain modern relief in the region are challenged. Quantitative analyses of digital elevation models and numerical modeling are coupled to provide the magnitudes and timing of changes in topographic relief. The results suggest that the southern Appalachians experienced a phase of topographic rejuvenation during the Miocene that increased the distance between the valley bottoms and mountain peaks > 160%. The most parsimonious driving mechanism to explain all evidence presented is uplift by dynamic topography. Chapter 2 confronts a long-standing debate over the style of orogenesis above the Hellenic subduction zone where two competing hypotheses are used to explain the rise of topography. Distinguishing between these hypotheses hinges on the kinematics of large faults associated with a series to topographic escarpments, known as the Hellenic troughs. Late Pleistocene marine terraces, optically stimulated luminescence geochronology, and structural mapping in South-central Crete and the Late Quaternary eustatic curve provide the dataset to test the kinematics of the Ptolemy fault, one of the Hellenic trough faults. Long term (104 – 105 yr) rock uplift rates are synthesized and active faults identified. Fault-scaling properties demonstrate that active onshore extensional faulting is geometrically inconsistent with contractional shortening along the Ptolemy fault. This finding indicates that the Ptolemy, and probably all of the Hellenic trough faults, accommodates extension-to-transtension. The regional uplift of South-central Crete is interpreted as the result of underplating along the plate interface, as demonstrated by uplift of both the foot-and-hanging walls of active extensional faults with respect to sea level. The Hellenic troughs are grabens rising over an inflating subduction wedge. Chapter 3 exploits fortuitous geologic circumstances in South-central Crete to document the landscape response to changes in the rate of rock uplift and the impact that lithology has on geomorphic sensitivity to tectonic signals. Suites of topographic and drainage basin metrics responsive to rock uplift are used to evaluate how changing conditions are manifested in the landscape. Findings indicate that the landscape is insensitive to changes in rock uplift rate that initiated > 400 Ka, suggesting geomorphic response times here are long. Carbonates reduce ability of the landscape to record tectonic signals, likely due to the development of karst hydrology. These findings demonstrate that landscapes may not represent the active tectonic displacement field. © Copyright 2012 by Sean Francis Gallen All Rights Reserved The Development of Topography in Ancient and Active Orogens: Case Studies of Landscape Evolution in the Southern Appalachians, USA and Crete, Greece by Sean Francis Gallen A dissertation submitted to the Graduate Faculty of North Carolina State University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy Marine, Earth and Atmospheric Sciences Raleigh, North Carolina 2013 APPROVED BY: _______________________________ _______________________________ Dr. Karl W. Wegmann Dr. DelWayne R. Bohnenstiehl Committee Chair _______________________________ _______________________________ Dr. James P. Hibbard Dr. Elana L. Leithold _______________________________ Dr. Frank J. Pazzaglia DEDICATION This is dedicated to my grandparents, Frank and Patricia Sullivan. Their love and dedication to one another and their family has served as an important and positive example throughout my entire life. ii BIOGRAPHY I was born in a small town just east of Philadelphia, PA in November of 1981. I grew up in Manlius, NY and graduated from Fayetteville-Manlius high school in 2000. My love for the mountains encouraged me to enroll at the University of Vermont, where I discovered my passion for the geosciences. I graduated in 2004 and took some time off from academics, trading in the Green Mountains of Vermont for the Rockies of Wyoming and Utah. While out west I suffered a serious snowboarding injury that forced me to refocus and motivated me to pursue a Master of Science in geology at Western Washington University. My experiences at Western furthered my zeal for the geosciences, specifically tectonics, where my thesis research focused on tectonics and rock magnetism. During my Master’s I became intrigued by active tectonics and interactions between earth surface and tectonic processes. After graduating in 2008, I once again decided to take some time off from academics. This hiatus lasted only about a month before I knew I wanted to go back to school to pursue a Ph.D. focused on active tectonics. I was fortunate enough to have recently read a paper about some interesting work in the Yellowstone area and look up the lead author, Karl Wegmann. I learned that he studied active tectonics, was an Assistant Professor at North Carolina State University and was looking for students. I enrolled at North Carolina State University in 2009 where Karl has allowed me to work on numerous wonderful projects. Much of the research that I have carried out over the four years of my Ph.D. is presented in this dissertation. iii Curriculum Vita - Sean F. Gallen Dept. of Marine, Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695 1. Professional Preparation: University of Vermont Geology & Political Science B.A. 2004 Western Washington University Geology M.Sc. 2008 North Carolina State University Earth Sciences Ph.D. 2013 2. Appointments: 2009 – 2013 Research Assistant/Teaching Assistant, North Carolina State University, Dept. of Marine, Earth and Atm. Sciences, Raleigh, NC 2008 Research Assistant, Western Washington University, Department of Geology, Pacific Northwest Paleomagnetism Laboratory, Bellingham, WA 2006 – 2007 Teaching Assistant, Western Washington University, Department of Geology, Bellingham, WA 3. Publications: In preparation: Gallen, S.F., Wegmann, K.W., Bohnenstiehl, D., Pazzaglia, F.J., Brandon, M.T., Fassoulas, C., in prep. Coastal Uplift, Activity and the Kinematics of the Hellenic Trough Faults: Tectonic Geomorphology of an Extending Forearc above a Retreating Subduction Zone, Crete, Greece: For submission to Geophysical Journal International. Gallen, S.F., Wegmann, K.W., in prep. Evaluating Landscape Response Times and Sensitivity to Temporal Gradients in Rock Uplift and Lithology in the Hellenic forearc, Crete, Greece: For submission to Geomorphology. Gallen, S.F., Wegmann, K.W., in prep. Rise of the Messara Graben: uplift rates and sediment flux from an actively extending forearc basin, Crete, Greece: For submission to Basin Research. Published: Gallen, S.F., Wegmann, K., Bohnenstiehl, D., 2013, Miocene rejuvenation of topographic relief in the southern Appalachians: GSA Today, v. 23, no. 2 p. 4-10. Gallen, S.F., Wegmann, K., Frankel, K., Hughes, S., Lewis, R., Lyons, N., Paris, P., Ross, K., Bauer, J., Witt, A., 2011. Hillslope response to knickpoint migration in the southern Appalachians: iv Implications for the evolution of post-orogenic landscapes: Earth Surface Processes and Landforms, v. 36, no. 9, p. 1254-1267. 4. Synergistic Activities: 1. Mentored two undergraduate students during NSF sponsored summer research exchange program between NCSU and Wake Technical Community College 2. Reviewer manuscripts submitted to Asian Journal of Earth Science 3. Invited research seminar at the geology department of Appalachian State University 5. Awards and Honors Sigma Xi Gants-in-Aid of Research ($500) - Did the Minoans do it? Testing Natural verses Anthropogenic Controls on Holocene Valley-Bottom Aggradation in the Messara Plain, Crete, Greece, 2012. People’s Choice Award, Best Talk – North
Load more

Recommended publications
  • The Example of Olive Oil LIFE08 INF/GR/000581 Report on the Evaluat
    Promoting sustainable production and consumption patterns: the example of olive oil LIFE08 INF/GR/000581 Report on the evaluation of the characteristics of olive oil production in Crete (Summary) Organization responsible for the action: ELGO DEMETER - Institute of Olive Tree & Subtropical Plants of Chania Scientific Coordinator of the action: Dr. I Metzidakis Chania 2011 Organization responsible: ELGO DEMETER –Directorate General of Agricultural Research, Institute of Olive Tree & Subtropical Plants of Chania Scientific Coordinator: Dr. I Metzidakis, with the cooperation of Mrs. A. Giannakaki Agrokipio, 73100 Chania Tel: +30281083434, Fax: +302821093963, Email: [email protected] 1 INTRODUCTION Oliviculture has always been connected to the history of Crete and apparently dates back as far as 8.000 years. It is connected to the tradition, religion, art as well as the social and economic life of the inhabitants ever since civilization started leaving its mark on the island. Today, olive orchards constitute one of the most dominant elements in the natural environment of the island, covering 65% of the farming land, and offer employment to almost the majority of its farming families. Oliviculture together with tourism make up two of the most important economic resources in Crete. It offers a significant income to the island and constitutes an interesting and cherished activity to a large part of its inhabitants. The aim of this study was to identify the problems, to come up with ways to take advantage of new possibilities-opportunities and to apply modern proposals – trends in the field of oliviculture. The main topics of this study are: • Identification and study of oliviculture systems.
    [Show full text]
  • Challenges and Opportunities for Sustainable Management of Water Resources in the Island of Crete, Greece
    water Review Challenges and Opportunities for Sustainable Management of Water Resources in the Island of Crete, Greece V. A. Tzanakakis 1,2,*, A. N. Angelakis 3,4 , N. V. Paranychianakis 5, Y. G. Dialynas 6 and G. Tchobanoglous 7 1 Hellenic Agricultural Organization Demeter (HAO-Demeter), Soil and Water Resources Institute, 57001 Thessaloniki, Greece 2 Department of Agriculture, School of Agricultural Science, Hellenic Mediterranean University, Iraklion, 71410 Crete, Greece 3 HAO-Demeter, Agricultural Research Institution of Crete, 71300 Iraklion, Greece 4 Union of Water Supply and Sewerage Enterprises, 41222 Larissa, Greece; [email protected] 5 School of Environmental Engineering, Technical University of Crete, 73100 Chania, Greece; [email protected] 6 Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Cyprus, Nicosia 1678, Cyprus; [email protected] 7 Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Davis, Davis, CA 95616, USA; [email protected] * Correspondence: [email protected] Received: 12 April 2020; Accepted: 16 May 2020; Published: 28 May 2020 Abstract: Crete, located in the South Mediterranean Sea, is characterized by long coastal areas, varied terrain relief and geology, and great spatial and inter-annual variations in precipitation. Under average meteorological conditions, the island is water-sufficient (969 mm precipitation; theoretical water potential 3284 hm3; and total water use 610 hm3). Agriculture is by far the greatest user of water (78% of total water use), followed by domestic use (21%). Despite the high average water availability, water scarcity events commonly occur, particularly in the eastern-south part of the island, driven by local climatic conditions and seasonal or geographical mismatches between water availability and demand.
    [Show full text]
  • Tavri Refuge – Askifou –East Apokoronas
    Tavri Refuge – Askifou –East Apokoronas Please read carefully the procedures, Terms and Conditions before making your booking. Small groups: up to 6 guests/guide, maximum group size 12 guests (2 vehicles) Chania – Vrisses - Alikambos: Let’s visit the “Dourakis” winery, the cellar, and have a wine tasting tour accompanied with Cretan tastes. Askifou – Tavri Shelter – Niatos Plateau: In Askifou the wild landscape is a typical example of Sfakia villages. Just a few kilometers southwest of Askifou is the eastern shelter on “Lefka Ori”, named “Tavri” and “Niatos” plateau, where you can see the peaks “Fanari” and “Kastro” in a height close to 2250 meters. Imbros: Time for lunch! The area is well known for it’s traditional tasty Cretan cuisine. Let’s eat! Askifou – Vatoudiaris –Emprosneros: Continue our off road adventure during which is easy for you to capture local culture and understand hard shepherds way of life. We will stop, admire nature and take pictures as the mountain’s landscape beauty is memorable. Vrisses: Let’s have a last break in one of the most famous villages in “Apokoronas” area. The flavor of a nice cup of coffee in the afternoon is a good idea for us to rest. Distance : 155 km Duration: 8 hours Altitude: 1250 m Price : ages 8-12 : 65 euro ages 12+ : 95 euro [The prices are for group participation (min 3 adults or 2 adults and 2 children)] Schedule: All year (on request) Pick up times: upon request Price includes: Hotel “door to door” pick up and drop off, liability insurance and local taxes, entrance fee for the winery tasting accompanied with Cretan tastes, tour in 7 seater 4wd vehicles, English speaking guide – driver, lunch with traditional food and wine, coffee or orange juice.
    [Show full text]
  • Registration Certificate
    1 The following information has been supplied by the Greek Aliens Bureau: It is obligatory for all EU nationals to apply for a “Registration Certificate” (Veveosi Engrafis - Βεβαίωση Εγγραφής) after they have spent 3 months in Greece (Directive 2004/38/EC).This requirement also applies to UK nationals during the transition period. This certificate is open- dated. You only need to renew it if your circumstances change e.g. if you had registered as unemployed and you have now found employment. Below we outline some of the required documents for the most common cases. Please refer to the local Police Authorities for information on the regulations for freelancers, domestic employment and students. You should submit your application and required documents at your local Aliens Police (Tmima Allodapon – Τμήμα Αλλοδαπών, for addresses, contact telephone and opening hours see end); if you live outside Athens go to the local police station closest to your residence. In all cases, original documents and photocopies are required. You should approach the Greek Authorities for detailed information on the documents required or further clarification. Please note that some authorities work by appointment and will request that you book an appointment in advance. Required documents in the case of a working person: 1. Valid passport. 2. Two (2) photos. 3. Applicant’s proof of address [a document containing both the applicant’s name and address e.g. photocopy of the house lease, public utility bill (DEH, OTE, EYDAP) or statement from Tax Office (Tax Return)]. If unavailable please see the requirements for hospitality. 4. Photocopy of employment contract.
    [Show full text]
  • Leading up to Travel...Leading up to Leaving for Greece I Was Already Travel-Weary from a Trip to Pittsburgh. I Spent the Even
    Leading up to Travel.... Leading up to leaving for Greece I was already travel-weary from a trip to Pittsburgh. I spent the evening resting with Tracy, wrapped up in affection. I felt so grateful to have found her and to share such deep love with her. At 3 am I packed, and was ready to pick up Roger at 6 am. We got a ride from my dad, who managed to tell Roger his life story on the way to Harrisburg. My dad followed a parking lot cleaner around the parking lot of Harrisburg Mall, trying to ask where the bus picks people up. The only problem is, a street cleaner has his head out the window looking at the curb. So dad circled the parking lot a couple of times and actually stopped the car and jumped out in front of the cleaner's path in order to ask for directions. I had already told my dad I knew the approximate pick up spot, but he wanted to make sure. Well, Dad found the exact spot and we were happy about it. The Megabus picked us up and took us to DC. I edited photos and requested couches in Europe on the way using bus wifi. When we arrived in DC we got lunch in Union station and took the metro to Reagan airport. Then we flew to JFK and had an excruciating layover. Roger and I were in good spirits. We killed time by people- watching. I saw celebrity look-alikes like Bill Gates (every middle- aged white guy with glasses), Tony Hawk (every 40 year old white male with street style and longish hair) and a woman that looked exactly the way Michael Jackson wished he looked.
    [Show full text]
  • Aspects of St Anna's Cult in Byzantium
    ASPECTS OF ST ANNA’S CULT IN BYZANTIUM by EIRINI PANOU A thesis submitted to The University of Birmingham for the degree of DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY Centre for Byzantine, Ottoman and Modern Greek Studies Institute of Archaeology and Antiquity College of Arts and Law The University of Birmingham January 2011 Acknowledgments It is said that a PhD is a lonely work. However, this thesis, like any other one, would not have become reality without the contribution of a number of individuals and institutions. First of all of my academical mother, Leslie Brubaker, whose constant support, guidance and encouragement accompanied me through all the years of research. Of the National Scholarship Foundation of Greece ( I.K.Y.) with its financial help for the greatest part of my postgraduate studies. Of my father George, my mother Angeliki and my bother Nick for their psychological and financial support, and of my friends in Greece (Lily Athanatou, Maria Sourlatzi, Kanela Oikonomaki, Maria Lemoni) for being by my side in all my years of absence. Special thanks should also be addressed to Mary Cunningham for her comments on an early draft of this thesis and for providing me with unpublished material of her work. I would like also to express my gratitude to Marka Tomic Djuric who allowed me to use unpublished photographic material from her doctoral thesis. Special thanks should also be addressed to Kanela Oikonomaki whose expertise in Medieval Greek smoothened the translation of a number of texts, my brother Nick Panou for polishing my English, and to my colleagues (Polyvios Konis, Frouke Schrijver and Vera Andriopoulou) and my friends in Birmingham (especially Jane Myhre Trejo and Ola Pawlik) for the wonderful time we have had all these years.
    [Show full text]
  • A Gazetteer of Pleistocene Paleontological Sites on Crete Island, Greece
    A Gazetteer of Pleistocene Paleontological Sites on Crete Island, Greece. Item Type text; Thesis-Reproduction (electronic) Authors Lax, Elliott Martin, 1959- Publisher The University of Arizona. Rights Copyright © is held by the author. Digital access to this material is made possible by the University Libraries, University of Arizona. Further transmission, reproduction or presentation (such as public display or performance) of protected items is prohibited except with permission of the author. Download date 27/09/2021 11:07:10 Link to Item http://hdl.handle.net/10150/558152 A GAZETTEER OF PLEISTOCENE PALEONTOLOGICAL SITES ON CRETE ISLAND, GREECE by Elliott Martin Lax A Thesis Submitted to the Faculty of the DEPARTMENT OF GEOSCIENCES in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements For the Degree of MASTER OF SCIENCE In the Graduate College THE UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA 1 9 9 1 2 STATEMENT BY AUTHOR This thesis has been submitted in partial fulfillment of requirements for an advanced degree at The University of Arizona and is deposited in the University Library to be made available to borrowers under rules of the Library. Brief quotations from this thesis are allowable without special permission, provided that accurate acknowledgement of source is made. Requests for permission for extended quotation from or reproduction of this manuscript in whole or in part may be granted by the head of the major department or the Dean of the Graduate College when in his or her judgement the proposed use of the material is in the interests of scholarship. In all other instances, however, permission must be obtained from the author.
    [Show full text]
  • Mortuary Variability in Early Iron Age Cretan Burials
    MORTUARY VARIABILITY IN EARLY IRON AGE CRETAN BURIALS Melissa Suzanne Eaby A dissertation submitted to the faculty of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in the Department of Classics. Chapel Hill 2007 Approved by: Donald C. Haggis Carla M. Antonaccio Jodi Magness G. Kenneth Sams Nicola Terrenato UMI Number: 3262626 Copyright 2007 by Eaby, Melissa Suzanne All rights reserved. UMI Microform 3262626 Copyright 2007 by ProQuest Information and Learning Company. All rights reserved. This microform edition is protected against unauthorized copying under Title 17, United States Code. ProQuest Information and Learning Company 300 North Zeeb Road P.O. Box 1346 Ann Arbor, MI 48106-1346 © 2007 Melissa Suzanne Eaby ALL RIGHTS RESERVED ii ABSTRACT MELISSA SUZANNE EABY: Mortuary Variability in Early Iron Age Cretan Burials (Under the direction of Donald C. Haggis) The Early Iron Age (c. 1200-700 B.C.) on Crete is a period of transition, comprising the years after the final collapse of the palatial system in Late Minoan IIIB up to the development of the polis, or city-state, by or during the Archaic period. Over the course of this period, significant changes occurred in settlement patterns, settlement forms, ritual contexts, and most strikingly, in burial practices. Early Iron Age burial practices varied extensively throughout the island, not only from region to region, but also often at a single site; for example, at least 12 distinct tomb types existed on Crete during this time, and both inhumation and cremation were used, as well as single and multiple burial.
    [Show full text]
  • Crete (Chapter)
    Greek Islands Crete (Chapter) Edition 7th Edition, March 2012 Pages 56 Page Range 256-311 PDF Coverage includes: Central Crete, Iraklio, Cretaquarium, Knossos, Arhanes, Zaros, Matala, Rethymno, Moni Arkadiou, Anogia, Mt Psiloritis, Spili, Plakias & around, Beaches Between Plakias & Agia Galini, Agia Galini, Western Crete, Hania & around, Samaria Gorge, Hora Sfakion & around, Frangokastello, Anopoli & Inner Sfakia, Sougia, Paleohora, Elafonisi, Gavdos Island, Kissamos-Kastelli & around, Eastern Crete, Lasithi Plateau, Agios Nikolaos & around, Mohlos, Sitia & around, Kato Zakros & Ancient Zakros, and Ierapetra & around. Useful Links: Having trouble viewing your file? Head to Lonely Planet Troubleshooting. Need more assistance? Head to the Help and Support page. Want to find more chapters? Head back to the Lonely Planet Shop. Want to hear fellow travellers’ tips and experiences? Lonely Planet’s Thorntree Community is waiting for you! © Lonely Planet Publications Pty Ltd. To make it easier for you to use, access to this chapter is not digitally restricted. In return, we think it’s fair to ask you to use it for personal, non-commercial purposes only. In other words, please don’t upload this chapter to a peer-to-peer site, mass email it to everyone you know, or resell it. See the terms and conditions on our site for a longer way of saying the above - ‘Do the right thing with our content. ©Lonely Planet Publications Pty Ltd Crete Why Go? Iraklio ............................ 261 Crete (Κρήτη) is in many respects the culmination of the Knossos ........................268 Greek experience. Nature here has been as prolifi c as Picas- Rethymno ..................... 274 so in his prime, creating a dramatic quilt of big-shouldered Anogia .........................
    [Show full text]
  • Fourteenth-Century Regional Cretan Church Decoration : the Case of the Painter Pagomenos and His Clientele
    Angeliki Lymberopoulou Fourteenth-century regional Cretan church decoration : the case of the painter Pagomenos and his clientele Series Byzantina 8, 159-175 2010 Series Byzantina VIII, pp. 159 175 Fourteenth-century Regional Cretan Church Decoration: the Case of the Painter Pagomenos and his Clientele* Angeliki Lymberopoulou The Open University, Milton Keynes, UK This paper has arisen from certain important questions regarding the way the production of art on Crete during the period of its Venetian domination (1211-1669) has been studied. For ex­ ample, research on the fourteenth-century frescoes in provincial churches, on which I would like to focus, involves attributions based on stylistic analysis. Broader practical circumstances of the creation of these fresco decorations have not been studied in detail and, therefore, a number of questions have been answered only very partially or not at all. Why, for instance, were decorated churches built in greater numbers in certain regions than in others? While stylistic attributions have given rise to tentative reconstructions of entire artistic schools, what can be assumed real­ istically about the size and composition of the workforce involved in the creation of the frescoes? And what was the relation between the social status of the patrons who commissioned fresco decorations and the style in which they were executed? While not claiming to have precise an­ swers to all these questions, I would like to present a few case studies which will, I hope, be an incentive for further research in this direction. The period of Venetian domination on Crete was a direct outcome of the Fourth Cru­ sade.1 The Venetians obtained the island in the aftermath of the first fall and sack of Con­ stantinople by the crusaders in 1204 - although they had to fight off their naval rivals, the Genoese, and managed to establish their rule on the island only from 1211 onwards.
    [Show full text]
  • History and Current State of Sheep Farming in Greece 1.1
    1. INTRODUCTION: HISTORY AND CURRENT STATE OF SHEEP FARMING IN GREECE 1.1 Historical background Sheep have been a resource which humans have been exploiting for millions of years (Rogdakis, 2001). The geographical, geomorphologic and climatic characteristics of Greece are particularly favourable to sheep farming. The mountainous terrain of the country, which proves difficult for other stock-raising, like bovine production, and the climatic conditions that allow for long periods of grazing have made sheep breeding a most important section of animal husbandry in Greece since ancient times, as it is generally the case in the wider Mediterranean geographical area (Kalaisakis, 1999). However, these areas, have recently suffered a strong decline in farming activity, mainly as a result of modern development forces, with the consequent abandonment of pastoral areas (Zervas, 1998; Rancourt et al., 2006). This situation led to changes in vegetation dynamics (mainly invasion of ligneous vegetation) and, therefore, in landscape structure and composition (Ispikoudis and Chouvardas, 2005). In ancient times, sheep and shepherds are inextricably tied to the mythology and the legends of the time; sometimes illustrating the history of the expeditions into far lands (the Argonaut Expedition), and other times tied to didactic stories (Aesop’s tale of the little shepherd). Sheep breeding comprises an important part of the ancient Greek economy as testified by Homer and Hesiod. During the Byzantine years sheep farming became widespread in the whole expanse of the Byzantine Empire in contrast with the Central European regions which turned more to other livestock (Eustathiou, 1996). In the 18th and 19th century the tradition continues and the flocks move throughout the Ottoman Empire, something that becomes more difficult in the 20th century with the establishment of national borders.
    [Show full text]
  • Greek Company, Based on the Island of Crete, Specialized in Production
    Profile Status: Published Business Offer Greek company, based on the island of Crete, specialized in production, trade and exporting of extra virgin and organic olive oil seeks for distributors and agents from all over Europe and Japan. Summary The company is based in Heraklion of Crete in Greece, and is specialized in producing, trading, and exporting of extra virgin olive oil, extra virgin olive seasoned with herbs and organic olive oil in an acidity of up to 0.3% and in big variety of packaging.Company’s portfolio includes PDO Messara, Viannos, Peza and Sitia extra virgin olive oil, olive paste, balsamic vinegar and balsamic vinegar with thyme honey, marmalade, honey, olives. The company is looking for agents and distributors. Creation Date 12 December 2018 Last Update 18 December 2018 Expiration Date 19 December 2019 Reference BOGR20181212001 Public Link https://een.ec.europa.eu/tools/services/PRO/Profile/Detail/6649ed57-f090- 41ca-a615-ca5918fa5bd2 Details Description A Greek family company located in Heraklion of Crete, is specialized in producing and trading of extra virgin olive oil in a variety of packaging. Other products include PDO Sitia, Viannos, Peza and Messara olive oil, organic extra virgin olive oil, extra virgin olive oil seasoned with Cretan herbs (rosemary, thyme, oregano, paprika, lemon, garlic, basil), organic extra virgin olive oil seasoned with Cretan organic herbs (oregano, rosemary, thyme, garlic, paprika, lemon, basil), extra virgin olive oil flavored with (chilli, chocolate, blood orange, truffle, wasabi, basil flavor), olive paste, balsamic vinegar and balsamic vinegar with thyme honey, marmalades, honey, olives. Company’s products come in a variety of packages such as glass bottle 250ml -1Lt and cans 500ml-5LT.
    [Show full text]