Fluviatile palaeoenvironments in archaeological context: Geographical position, methodological approach and global change - Hydrological risk issues

Under the perspective of fluvial risk analysis in urban and rural areas, three large catchments of the Western Europe (Loire, Rhone, Isonzo/Frioul-Italy) have been studied to demonstrate the relevance of combining the three hydrogeomorphological approaches (hydrography, hydrology, hydraulics). This combination allows better characterisation of both Holocene hydroclimatic variability and flooding hazard. The hydroclimatic hazard has been quantified in the three studied catchments, highlighting several phases of flood-dominated regime (FOR) since the end of Late Glacial. Impacts of FDRs were aggravated at sometimes by human actions over the last 5000 years. Combining hydrogeomorphological data with land use data allows an analysis of fluvial risk in each catchment studied. In a general way, fluvial risk has been significantly analysed since the construction of anthroposystems (e.g., since the Roman time). The fluvial risk evolved differently in cities (Tours, Vienna, Lyons, Aquileia) and rural zones (Varennes de Tours, Rhone Delta). (C) 2009 Elsevier Ltd and INQUA. All rights reserved.