Ancient Lead Pollution in the Aegean Sea Began 5,200 Years Ago, Study Finds

New research suggests that human-caused lead pollution in the Aegean Sea started 5,200 years ago—1,200 years earlier than previously thought.

A study published in Communications Earth & Environment analyzed marine sediment cores from the Aegean and a peatland core from northeastern Greece, linking lead contamination levels to historical human activity.

A Revised Timeline of Lead Contamination

The earliest probable human-caused lead pollution was detected 5,200 years ago in the Tenaghi Philippon peatland core, predating earlier records from the Balkan Peninsula by over a millennium.

The study also reveals a major surge in lead pollution around 2,150 years ago, coinciding with the Roman Empire’s expansion into Greece. This period saw a dramatic increase in gold and silver mining, leading to the first recorded instance of marine lead contamination in the Aegean.

Environmental Impact of Ancient Societies

By integrating pollen and spore data with historical records, researchers identified how societal and cultural changes influenced the region’s ecosystems over time. Their findings highlight the deep environmental impact of ancient mining activities, shaping land and marine environments long before modern industrialization.

Reference: Societal changes in Ancient Greece impacted terrestrial and marine environments, Communications Earth & Environment, 30 January 2025.
DOI: 10.1038/s43247-024-01921-7