Palaeogeographical reconstruction and management challenges of an archaeological site listed by UNESCO: the case of the Letoon shrine in the Xanthos Plain (Turkey)

A palaeogeographical reconstruction of the Xanthos Plain, Turkey, reveals that the Letoon shrine was surrounded by a dynamic landscape dominated by lagoons and marshes, shaped by the gradual closure of a marine bay due to coastal spit formation. Sedimentary analysis identified a branch or former channel of the Eşen Çayı river near the shrine, providing new insights into its historical geography. The study integrates geomorphological data with historical, archaeological, and literary sources, addressing long-standing questions about the region's landscape during the first millennium BC. This research underscores the importance of palaeoenvironmental reconstructions in managing UNESCO World Heritage Sites, offering a framework to enhance their tourist potential while preserving archaeological integrity.

Fouache, E., Ecochard, E., Kuzucuoğlu, C., Carcaud, N., Ekmekçi, M., Ulusoy, I., Çiner, A., & des Courtils, J. (2012). Palaeogeographical reconstruction and management challenges of an archaeological site listed by UNESCO: the case of the Letoon shrine in the Xanthos Plain (Turkey). Quageo, 31(1), 37–49. https://doi.org/10.2478/v10117-012-0002-z