抄録
We obtained sediment samples from the Kasumi-Awara archaeological site in the Toyooka
Basin, Hyogo Prefecture, Japan. In order to clarify changes in sedimentary environments at this
site, we analysed the diatom assemblages and carried out sulfur analysis of sediments. These
were then used along with two radiocarbon dates to determine the Holocene marine limit (HML),
which provides a sea-level index point approximating the height of the high water level.
Although no diatoms are found in the clay sediments containing abundant shell remains
between -1.68m and +0.04m altitude, sedimentary sulfur content more than 0.3% in most
samples generally indicates marine influence at these horizons. Sedimentary sulfur is abundant
and brackish-water diatoms are contained ≪ 10 valves per miligram of dry sediment) in clay and
sand sediments between +0.04m and +0.48m, indicating marine influence in sedimentary
environments. Freshwater diatoms dominate and sulfur content is less than 0.3% in the peaty
clay sediments between +0.48m and +0.85m, indicating freshwater depositional conditions.
Thus the height of HML is regarded to be +0.48m altitude .From the altitud eof the HML and the
inferred paleo-tida lrange at this site ,the height of paleo-mean sea level at about 2150 calBP is
estimated to be +0.26m altitude