Changes of relative sea level during the past 5000 years in the ancient harbor of Marseilles, Southern France

In the ancient harbor of Marseilles, marine fauna fixed upon archaeological structures as well as bio-sedimentary units document a 1.5 m steady rise i n relative sea level during the past 5000 years, followed by a near stable level at present datum from about 1500 years AD to the last century. This t rend is similar to the one previously documented along the rocky coasts of the same region. Field observations inside and outside the harbor confirm t hat no sea level stand higher than the present ever occurred during the stu died period in contradiction with the numerical model of Peltier but in agr eement with the glacio-hydro-isostatic models of Lambeck and Johnston and L ambeck and Bard. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.