Story perspectives

Study Finds Venice Lagoon Was Land After Sea-Level Rise

By Drooid · Oct 28, 2026, 10:43 UTC · How we work

Read the story

Story summary

Summary

University of Southampton researcher Samuele Ongaro and colleagues modeled sea-level changes reshaping the northern Adriatic coast.
They used seismic data and sedimentary cores from Italy, Slovenia and Croatia.
The study shows Venice lagoon was dry land extending over 30 miles inland.
Sea level rose up to 25 mm per year after 10,000 years ago, forcing Mesolithic hunter-gatherers to adapt.
Three rapid-rise phases occurred, then stability for 6,000 years enabled settlements and farming.

1 of 1

Story summary

University of Southampton researcher Samuele Ongaro and colleagues modeled sea-level changes reshaping the northern Adriatic coast.
They used seismic data and sedimentary cores from Italy, Slovenia and Croatia.
The study shows Venice lagoon was dry land extending over 30 miles inland.
Sea level rose up to 25 mm per year after 10,000 years ago, forcing Mesolithic hunter-gatherers to adapt.
Three rapid-rise phases occurred, then stability for 6,000 years enabled settlements and farming.