Ancient Greeks Were Sorta Right: Peuce Island Existed, but as the Dunavat Peninsula

The ancient legendary island of PEUCE – myth or reality?

Authors:

Romanescu et al

Abstract:

The testimonies left by the ancient Greeks indicate the existence of the legendary Peuce Island at the mouth of the Danube. Several locations for the island have been proposed throughout history: the pre-continental inland of Chilia, the fluvio-maritime levee of Letea, the initial alluvial fan of the Danube, the Dobroudjan inland between the Danube, the Black Sea and the valley of the Telita River and the Dunavat Peninsula, and others. All of these hypotheses have been proven wrong, except for that regarding the Dunavat Peninsula; but for the Dunavat Peninsula to have represented an island, there must have been a fluvial or maritime corridor separating it from the rest of the Dobroudjan inland. The Beibugeac corridor represented the last link in deciphering this enigma. Interdisciplinary research has been conducted to confirm or refute the theory of the existence of an arm. The overall morphology is favourable to the existence of a fluvial arm. Nonetheless, analysis of the geologic boreholes demonstrates that the nature of the sediments is purely continental and that they originate in the superficial erosion of the calcareous slopes belonging to the Dunavat Hills and Bestepe Hills. The position of Peuce Island in the south of the most important Danubian arm makes possible its location between the Halmyris Gulf, the Danube Delta and the continental inland of Dobroudja. The ancient Greeks were interested only in the exploitation of the sea and the coastal area. For this reason, they built cities only within reach of the sea (Orgame [Argamum], Histria, Tomis and Callatis). When viewed from the sea or the surrounding swamp areas, the Dunavat Peninsula – given that it is elongated and narrow – seemed like an island covered by pine forests. Because it was mistaken for an island, its misleading name was ascribed and transmitted throughout history.