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Due to the high preservation of the loess series and the availability of coastal outcrop sections loess cover of Western Ciscaucasia has ample opportunities for spatial paleogeographical reconstructions for the Middle and Late Pleistocene. Currently, the level of knowledge on the structure and composition of the loess-paleosol sequences of Western Ciscaucasia remains unequal. The Azov coast is studied in more detail in comparison with the inner part of the region. The structure and composition of the loess-paleosol sequences of different parts of Western Ciscaucasia (the Sea of Azov coast and western macroslope of the Stavropol Upland) for the Middle and Late Pleistocene are compared. Comparison of the key sections are based on litho- and pedostratigraphy, magnetic susceptibility, grain size, elemental and mineral composition, and luminescence dating. Recent results of luminescence dating allowed correcting the structure of the Mezin pedocomplex (S1). It was found out that this pedocomplex includes three phases of soil formation (S1SS1, S1SS2, S1SS3), which approximately correspond to the warm stages of marine isotope stage 5 (MIS 5) – 5a, 5c, 5e. In all sections, a clear trend towards an increase in the accumulation rates over the last three climatic macrocycles is observed. The last interglacial-glacial macrocycle (MISs 2–5) is characterized by the most significant increase in average accumulation rates, which were ∼1.8 times higher compared to MISs 6–7 and ∼2.3 times higher than during the MISs 8–9. A likely reason for the regional increase in the average dust accumulation rate was the directional increase in climate aridity. The patterns of the spatial distribution of the loess thickness and material composition indicate that the main source of aeolian dust is situated in the east. We suppose that the main sources of dust are sand masses of the alluvial plains of Lover Volga, Terek, Kuma and Kura rivers in the Caspian lowland. The Lower Don sandy province is reconstructed to be a secondary source. Dust is blown from the sandy terraces of the Don, and in the past - from the Don deltas, during the period when the Sea of Azov dried up.

Detailed geoarchaeological studies were conducted at the Groβkrotzenburg floodplain (Southern Hesse, Germany) in order to reconstruct the fluvial palaeogeography and search for Roman harbour installations. Another objective was to reconstruct the local flood history based on stratigraphic and geochronological data. Prospection based on electrical resistivity tomography, vibracoring and direct push electrical conductivity logging were carried out to detect and analyze subsurface stratigraphies. Altogether, 6 sediment cores, up to 7 m long, were drilled along transects along and perpendicular to the present course of the River Main. Based on sedimentological and geochemical data, we classified four sedimentary units. Vibracore data helped to detect the pre-Holocene bedrock topography and to differentiate between sedimentary facies. We present geophysical, sedimentary and geochronological evidence of a river channel right in front of the Roman fort that was probably active during Roman times. Moreover, we found another bridge pier candidate in the prolongation of a well documented Roman bridge. Our findings further indicate that the northern riverbank has shifted towards south since Roman times. However, neither sedimentary nor archaeological evidence for harbour installations could be brought to light. Nevertheless, we assume that conditions favorable of a river harbour, namely permanent water flow and sufficient water depth, were guaranteed in front of the fort where an undercut slope was probably already existing during Roman times. Several sequences of coarse-grained, sandy to gravelly river deposits were found associated with major flood events that affected the site at Groβkrotzenburg during late Medieval and modern times. At that time, central Germany was repeatedly influenced by extreme meteorological conditions and associated extreme runoff events. Based on radiocarbon data we were able to define two periods of major flooding, namely between 1435 and 1484 cal AD and 1646–1792 cal AD. These periods are contemporaneous with periods of increased flood frequency in Central Europe, derived from historical sources, namely 1430–1460 AD and 1730–1790 AD. Based on sedimentary and geo-chronostratigraphic evidence, major flood events detected at the Groβkrotzenburg alluvial plain are most probably related with the AD 1480, AD 1573 and AD 1780 events known from historical records. Our results document that few historical flood events controlled the overall development of the fluvial landscape at Groβkrotzenburg at least since Roman times until the late 19th century, namely by eroding pre-existing fluvial deposits, accumulating thick sequences of event deposits and narrowing the riverbed. Since the late 19th century, river regulation measures severely changed the hydrological conditions of the River Main.

Paleohydrological investigations were carried out in the Luoyang Basin along the Luohe River in the middle reaches of the Yellow River basin. Three units of overbank flood deposits (OFD) were identified in a Holocene aeolian loess-soil profile on the south cliffy river bank at Taixuecun site (TXC). Analytical results including magnetic susceptibility, grain size distribution and geochemical elements indicate that these well-sorted overbank flood deposits were deposited from the suspended sediment load in floodwaters. We identified two episodes of prehistoric extraordinary overbank flooding that were dated to 6000–5500 and 4000–3800 yr BP using AMS 14C and OSL dating techniques with references to the already-known ages of the archaeological remains. Among of the two episodes, the overbank episode at 4000–3800 yr BP likely had a profound impact on the cultural development from the late Longshan Culture (4500–4000 yr BP) to the Erlitou Culture (3700–3500 yr BP) in the alluvial plain of the Luo River within the Luoyang Basin, providing geological evidence for the legends of ancient floods and their social impacts at ca. 4000 yr BP. In addition, an episode of historic overbank flood event was dated to 1800–1700 yr BP, i.e., from the Han to Wei dynasties, during which the ancient capital (Luoyang City) was subjected to frequent flooding. These aforementioned hydro-climatic events are considered to be regional expressions of known climatic events. The study adds our knowledge of the Holocene extraordinary overbank floods and their relationship with monsoonal climate change and human land-use practices, and the social impact of prehistoric environmental changes on human cultural development.

The Upper Palaeolithic open-air site of Landry, near Perigueux in the Aquitaine region of southwestern France, lies on an alluvial plain of the Isle River. The site contains two stratified Late Solutrean levels preserved over 300 m2 within aeolian silts and dated by optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) to between 27 and 16 ky. Only lithic material was present in both levels, with organic material having been destroyed by post-depositional processes. The upper level, associated with a thermoluminescence (TL) date of 21 ky, obtained from burnt flint, produced the remains of a hunting camp organised into different sectors containing cobble reserves, features in large alluvial blocks or heated cobbles, and specialised activity zones for the production and use of highly varied domestic as well as hunting tools. The lithic assemblage comprises more than a hundred laurel leaf points, bifacial tools and shouldered points that reflect either considerably different degrees of technical knowledge and know-how amongst the group(s) who occupied the site and or highly diversified needs. The importation and circulation of flint points in non-local raw materials likely suggests the occupation to have been connected with other Late Solutrean sites within an expansive subsistence and raw material provisioning territory. The remarkable preservation of habitation features, the varied composition of the toolkit and the exceptional presence of mobiliary art makes Landry a benchmark for better understanding the technology and socio-cultural organisation of Late Solutrean groups in the Aquitaine Basin.

The dryland fluvial sequences exposed in the lower part of the Gujarat alluvial plain are investigated for palaeohydrological/palaeoclimatic reconstruction using conventional sedimentology, grain size analyses supported by optical chronology. Considering that the study area is cradling large-scale constructional activities, an attempt has also been made to assess the geotechnical properties of the sediments. It has been observed that the lower reaches of the Sabarmati valley have preserved record of fluvial aggradation since MIS-5 (90 ka) to MIS-3 (47 ka) whereas the onset of aeolian processes began at around 12 ka. Based on the sediment texture, the alluvial sequences are divided into the lower and upper units. The lower fluvial sequence is dated to 90–63 ka whereas the upper fluvial sequence is dated to 47 ka. The stratigraphic marker red soil is dated to 63 ka. The study indicates that the terrain experienced tectonic perturbations after ∼12 ka which was responsible for the shifting of the Sabarmati river from regional NE-SW to N-S which is more pronounced towards the upstream of the Sabarmati river basin while the landscape stability is observed towards the downstream consisting of the older alluvium dated to 90 ka. Geotechnical investigation reveals potentially liquefiable sand, which however have been compacted due to large scale calcretisation since their deposition.

The response of alluvial plains or basins located upstream from the limit of marine deposition to allogenic forcing, such as sea level and climate change, has received little attention compared with adjacent coastal plains. This study investigates the stratigraphy and evolution of an alluvial basin in Nara, Japan, which has formed along the middle reaches of the Yamato River and its tributaries since around the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM), based on the analysis of newly collected radiocarbon-dated sediment cores and by collating existing borehole logs, radiocarbon ages, and burial depths of dated archaeological remains. Major fluvial incision did not occur in the basin during the sea-level lowstand around the LGM. In addition, the latest Pleistocene to Holocene strata ( The burial depths of dated archaeological remains suggest that the thickness of sediment that has accumulated over the last 2000 years is around 1–2 m across large areas of the basin. The expansion of secondary forest caused by human disturbance in the historical period, and repeated landslide-induced river-bed uplift downstream from the outlet of the basin, may have promoted flood deposition in the basin.

A new assemblage of fossil beetles of Upper Pleistocene age, dated between 15,754 and 14,697 cal yr BP, is described and interpreted based on cluster analysis. In this study, we present an analysis on the taxonomic composition, and the paleoenvironmental implication of the fossil beetle assemblage in the archaeo- paleontological site of Pilauco in Osorno, south-central Chile (40°34′S-73°07′ W). Around 17,370 cal yr BP at the onset of deglaciation the old Damas River abandoned its alluvial plain; afterwards wetlands grew up by deposition of peat and colluvial sediments. The fossil beetles were deposited in the PB-7 layer where human artefacts and vertebrate remains have been found in the same spatial and temporal context. The assemblage includes 13 families, documented by 285 skeletal remains of fossil beetles. Ten ecological groups were identified and related to riparian, epigean, Nothofagus sp. forests, and lotic environments such as streams and ponds. Dung and fungi beetles were also part of the fossil assemblage. Pollen and carpological investigations in the same strata point towards the presence of wetlands and evergreen North Patagonian rainforest communities in the Pilauco site during the Upper Pleistocene. However, this study reveals that the Pilauco fossil beetles do not completely conform to any of the known modern assemblages. Therefore, we interpret that the fossil beetle assemblage from Pilauco is the result of the coexistence of different small pockets of habitats in a reduced spatial setting during a period of deep environmental/anthropic changes at the end of the last glaciation. The carabids and dung beetles from these beds indicate that the wetlands may have undergone dry conditions for undetermined periods of time. Finally, we compare nearly contemporaneous beetle assemblages of the sites Pilauco and Monte Verde II to discuss differences and similarities between the sites.

The ancient shorelines and main differences in the vegetational landscape of S Sardinia during the Punic period (5th–4th century BC) have been recognized by an interdisciplinary archaeological, paleobotanical and geomorphological approach. Sixteen trading amphoras and one olla of Punic manufacture brought to light during underwater exploration in Santa Gilla Lagoon (S Sardinia, W Mediterranean) provide data on relative sea level changes. The infilling mud of each retrieved amphora is representative of the ages lasting for about 200–300 years. The macro-archaebotanical contents document the use of seeds and fruits of Vitis, Sorbus , Ficus , Olea and Prunus during Punic trading and suggest the occurrence of agro-pastoral practices in the surrounding plains or the area behind the lagoon system. The palynological analysis documents the presence of holm and cork oak forests, a widespread Mediterranean forest with Juniper and Pinus , and a developed stagnant coastal system, and reveals a climate-induced past vegetation change that is likely to have been emphasized by anthropogenic pressure and agriculture activity during the 4th century BC. The GPS localization of the amphoras shows a distribution according to curved alignments that probably correspond to the shorelines (5th-4th century BC) at – 1.95 ± 10 m and −1.70 ± 10 m. Geomorphological data reveal a sea level rise of about 25 cm during a century, corresponding to 300 m of shoreline regression towards the alluvial plain. With these rapid processes of drowning of the coastal plain, the presence of Punic settlements along the lagoon borders documents the reorganization of commercial and economic activities. This shows the great adaptability of the ancient population to the sea level rise (SLR) and fast-flooding processes of the coastline in a lagoonal area vulnerable to subsidence phenomena.

Multi-thread rivers are typified by the presence of interconnected channels separated by mid-channel bars or the islands forming as a result of vegetation encroachment on mid-channel bars. High gradients of channels and valley floors, high discharge variability, relatively low content of fine, cohesive sediments in the alluvial plain, coarse bed material and high sediment supply are environmental conditions that favour the development of braided channel pattern. Under natural conditions of the Holocene, island-braided channel pattern was typical of the rivers in the foreland of the Tatra Mountains and most likely also those draining the parts of the flysch Outer Carpathians underlain by thick-bedded sandstones complexes. These braided channels formed in the rivers flowing through mostly non-cohesive floodplains and fed with coarse-grained material exceeding competence of the rivers. Progressive deforestation of mountain catchments with the increasing area of cultivated hillslopes resulted in higher flood peaks and substantially increased sediment supply to river channels. Coupled with greater humidity of the final stages of the Little Ice Age, this led to the transformation of the island-braided rivers into bar-braided ones. Throughout the nineteenth century, the braided channel morphology expanded downstream to the foreland river reaches. In turn, over the twentieth century the braided morphology nearly disappeared from Polish Carpathian rivers, mostly as a result of their channelization. The effectiveness of these works was, however, strengthened by a decrease in sediment supply to the rivers caused by land use changes and by the reduced availability of bed material for fluvial transport resulting from in-channel gravel mining and partitioning of rivers with dam reservoirs. Environmental changes which have since occurred in the river catchments and disruption of the continuity of sediment transport by dams limit the feasibility of the restoration of braided channel pattern in Polish Carpathian rivers to their reaches supporting such morphology under natural conditions of the Holocene.

During the Middle Pleistocene, the nature of glacial–interglacial fluctuations changed from low-amplitude and a periodicity of 41 ky to high-amplitude and quasi-periodic of 100 ky. The origin of the Mid-Pleistocene Climate Transition (MPT) is an unsolved mystery. At present, there is a debate about whether the initiation of the MPT was a gradual or an abrupt process. This study investigated the process of initiation of the MPT from reconstructions of eustatic sea-level changes, as a proxy for global ice volume, based on a reexamination of lithofacies and fossil occurrences from shallow-marine sediments (Omma Formation) exposed on the west coast of Japan. The Omma Formation comprises 19 depositional sequences spanning marine isotope stages (MIS) 56–21.3, reflecting sedimentation under alluvial plain to offshore conditions. The data indicate that (1) sea-level was lowest during MIS 22 (∼0.9 Ma); (2) sea-level during MIS 34 (∼1.13 Ma) and MIS 26 (∼0.96 Ma) was lower than during any other glacial stage, except for MIS 22; and (3) sea-level during MIS 22 was at most 20 m lower than during MIS 34 and 26. Together, these findings suggest that the initiation of the MPT was a gradual, rather than abrupt, process.

This paper presents the analysis of the ichtyoarchaeological record from Los Bananos site (Goya, Corrientes, Argentine). The aim of this study is to render a first evaluation to the role played by fish in subsistence during subsequent occupations of the site. The site is located in the alluvial plain of Middle Paraná River, beside Paraná Miní creek, and it has provided new information about pottery and lithic technology, subsistence, chronology (14C), site formation processes, etc. Bones from Los Bananos have been divided into three assemblages (LB1, LB2 and LB3), according to associated cultural materials. The pre-Hispanic populations that occupied this area by the end of the Late Holocene based their subsistence in hunting, gathering and fishing. Also, the makers of a distinctive ceramic ware associated with LB1 assemblage (related to Goya-Malabrigo entity -lato sensu-), relied on small-scale horticulture. Preceding materials of the other sets (LB2 and LB3) do not present necessary characteristics for cultural association as shown in LB1. The assemblages will be discussed in sequence of their deposition; and compared with results from other related sites. The results of zooarchaeological and taphonomic analysis of the faunal remains suggest that fish was an important resource in LB1. While from LB3 analysis, we will see that fish constituted a complementary resource in the diet. Thus, we can infer that, the role of animals in the diet of the site's prehistoric inhabitants changed during the time deposits were laid. Fil: Barboza, María Carolina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Rosario. Facultad de Humanidades y Artes; Argentina

The fluvial landforms of the last cold stage are represented in the Sub-Carpathian Basins by a system of 2–3 terraces, which grade into alluvial fans of a height of 15–20, 8–12 and 6–8 m above the present riverbeds in the mountain foreland. In the Vistula River valley the 15–20 m high terrace, covered with loess, extends along the western margin of the Sandomierz Basin and northern margin of the Carpathians. Away from the mountain margin, it passes into the sandy terrace plain with dunes. It is formed of at least two Interpleniglacial alluvial fills: the older one dated at 48–36 ka BP (over 50–40.6 ka cal BP) and the younger one dated 30–25 ka BP (34.1–29.0 ka cal BP) thus pertaining to the Upper Pleniglacial. This latter forms a terrace 15 m high. In general, accumulation of fluvial sediments interrupted with erosion phases dominated in the mountain foreland during the period 60–25 ka BP (over 60–29 ka cal BP). The most significant erosion phase took place before the maximum extension of the Vistulian (Weichselian, Wisconsinian) ice sheet (i.e. before 25–20 ka BP = 29–24 ka cal BP) and was connected with a change from an oceanic to a more continental climate. The next alluvial fill of terrace 8–12 m high (with remnants of braided river channels) was formed at the end of the Upper Plenivistulian. The incision of the river channels below the present channel level was followed by aggradation in the Late Vistulian (15–13 ka BP = 18.2–15.6 ka cal BP) accompanied by a change in river channel system from braided to meandering. In the Wisloka and San River valleys alluvial plains extending by lateral erosion of large meanders were abandoned by rivers mainly in the Younger Dryas and the Preboreal. The Late Vistulian large palaeomeanders are missing along lower Sola and lower Dunajec. These rivers, fed from higher mountains, had still tendency to braiding. The climate cooling of the Younger Dryas brought an increase in the delivery of bedload to the river channels and a tendency to braiding in Vistula valley (Drwinka depression). The expansion of forest in the Early Holocene reduced the water discharge and the size of meanders. As a result, their width fallen by 3–5 times. Alluvial data showed also a distinct humid climatic phase ca. 9.5–8.5 ka cal BP.

The riverine plain of the Lower Macquarie River has a series of alluvial sedimentary formations that have been dated from the Late Pliocene to the late Holocene. The soils formed on these alluvial sediments provide an opportunity to make some observations about the pedological processes that formed these soils. The main soils on the coarser alluvial sediments on the meander plains include Black Dermosols and Phaeozems and Stratic Rudosols on the youngest Holocene alluvial sediments, with texture contrast developing in the profiles to form Red Chromosols and Red Dermosols or Luvisols and Sodosols on the oldest alluvial sediments. On the finer sediments of the backplains, Vertosols or Vertisols are the dominant soils both on the backplains of the youngest Holocene alluvial sediments and on the oldest alluvial sediments. On the meander plains pedological processes generally have resulted in the reduction in the clay content of the A horizon within 10 000 to 15 000 years and the reddening of the subsoils, as well as an increase in the exchangeable Ca:exchangeable Mg ratio in the surface soil. The oldest soils (>400 000 years) have a deep red subsoil. On the backplains, pedological processes have produced minimal changes in the soil properties except perhaps for some darkening and reduction of colour intensity of the subsoil. The pedology of the salinity and sodium levels in the soils is complex and appears to be affected by climate change and dust depositional events during the period of soil formation.

The finding of recycled lithic artifacts in the Mousterian stratigraphic sequences of Grotta Fumane, Grotta San Bernardino and Grotta Broion in the southern Alps has stimulated investigations into the economic behavior and technology of Neanderthals during the Late Pleistocene. These three archives preserve remarkable evidence, dated from 90 ka and 40 ka, and show distinct signatures in terms of lithic technology, settlement and the provisioning of flint. A study has been carried out with the aim to detect the possible differentiation of tools between expedient/opportunistic vs. curated/planned and to identify the diverse aspects of tool-kit provisioning to thus infer mobility and provisioning strategies. From the identification of double patinae and from comparisons between these three sites, it has been possible to identify occurrences of recycling consisting of the collection and exploitation of old cores and flakes in expeditious or curated procedures. The evidence suggests that the recycling of old artifacts played a variable role in the Neanderthal economic strategy. The final Middle Palaeolithic in northern Italy is recorded in a handful of sheltered sites and very few open-air settlements, that were visited for short-term occupations or that were repeatedly used to accomplish complex tasks, mostly aimed at the exploitation of mineral, non-mineral and subsistence resources. Huge quantities of lithic raw material as well as the geomorphic and ecological variability in the belt between the upper alluvial plain and the pre-Alps depict the context in which Neanderthals lived and circulated in accordance with a model of low residential mobility.

We outline results of a pilot geoarchaeological study of three settlement mounds ( tepe ) in the Qazvin Plain, near Tehran (ca. 7350 to 2450 cal BP), conducted as part of a wider investigation of the interaction between prehistoric human communities and their environments in western Iran. The aim of the geoarchaeological study was to assess the potential of settlement sediments as records of past human practices and to guide future systematic sampling for geoarchaeological analyses. Here, we integrate bulk sediment (sediment texture, organic matter) with thin section-based (thin section micromorphology, SEM) analyses in order to characterize human inputs in settlement deposits and infer human practices that drove sediment deposition. Plinth degradation and various kinds of burning byproducts and domestic and manufacturing waste furnished distinctive inputs to settlement sediments. Different types of fuel (wood – perhaps Tamarix , straw, dung) may reflect diverse domestic and manufacturing contexts of fire use.

This study investigated fifteen Neolithic cities distributed in a crescent-shaped belt along the middle Yangtze River from the period between ∼4750 and 3050 BC (∼6.7–5.0 cal. ka BP). The belt consists of a low-lying medial alluvial plain surrounded by hills more than 50 m a.s.l. (above sea level). The Neolithic cities within this belt occupied three distinct topographies, the highlands of alluvial plains, the lower foothills, and the surrounding hills. All the cities were situated adjacent to the lowest level tributaries or smallest lakes, and had complex trench defense systems, with rivers and lakes interlinking the trenches, and most of the cities had defensive moats. Construction peaks of defensive fortifications occurred during the Daxi (4550–3050 BC) and Qujialing cultures (3050–2650 BC), while most Neolithic cities were abandoned in the late Shijiahe period (∼2250 BC). Based on assessments on the locality, age, construction, and the detailed information on the geographical characteristics of the Neolithic cities, the sites of Neolithic cities were tightly associated with the development history of East civilization, and the rise of the cities is well correlated with the warm and humid climate in mid-Holocene (∼5.2 cal. ka BP, or ∼3250 BC), while the decline of the ancient cities is related with the dry and cold climate in mid-late Holocene (∼4.2 cal. ka BP, or ∼2250 BC). The development and decline of these cities were also well linked with water accessibility, topography, and the occurrence of droughts, floods and other extreme events during the mid-Holocene. Such environment conditions and climate changes played significant roles for the ancient people to determine the location, structure, and morphology of the cities. Although the military considerations were also important, we cannot simply consider the prehistoric city construction in the middle Yangtze River was a passive defense against foreign invasion.

Several alluvial areas in the Lower Scheldt basin (LSB) have been subjected to geo-archaeological surveys and excavations in light of tidal restoration and nature development projects. Through the combination of a large number of radiocarbon dates and the sedimentary and geomorphological characteristics of the dated samples, several trends in the evolution of Lateglacial and Holocene fluvial activity in the LSB emerge. At the onset of the Lateglacial period the fluvial style in the LSB consisted of a meandering river system. During most of this period and the early and middle Holocene depositional processes dominated. After a first phase of gyttja deposition, organic and clastic sediments gradually filled the channels and later on this accretion also occurred outside their confines, extending laterally in the alluvial plain. The transition from the Subboreal to the Subatlantic period witnessed an intensification of fluvial activities, and a new meandering river system developed. Vertical accumulation processes continued to dominate the fluvial environment. Due to the creation of an extensive network of dikes floodplain evolution was restricted from the 11th–12th century onwards. Similar evolutions are observed in other lowland river basins in NW Europe, evolutions which have been related to climatic changes, and from the 4th millennium cal BP onwards, also to anthropogenic influences. The low-energy aggradation regime throughout the Holocene within the alluvial areas of the LSB accounts for an extensive, well-preserved, but well-hidden archaeological record. The observed geomorphological and sedimentary evolutions are of primary importance for the understanding of the presence and ‘preservation potential’ of archaeological structures and finds from the Final Palaeolithic up to the Medieval period.

The most ancient in situ Palaeolithic industries in Ukraine are known from the multi-layer Palaeolithic site of Korolevo in Transcarpathia, along the Tisza River. The Korolevo site was excavated from 1974 to the early 1990s. The Palaeolithic artefacts were related to a complex loess–palaeosol succession on top of a volcanic mount above the present-day alluvial plain. In the eastern sector (Beyvar), abundant lithic implements were collected in various excavation areas, but the loess–palaeosol succession was often limited or discontinuous. In the northern sector (Gostry Verkh) the loess–palaesol sequence reached a total thickness of 14 m, although the Palaeolithic assemblages were poorly documented. Huge Middle and Early Palaeolithic collections were mainly produced on local raw material (andesite). At Gostry Verkh, the reference stratigraphic sequence of Korolevo encompasses a complex succession of loamy units alternating with seven palaeosols. The Brunhes–Matuyama boundary was fixed at the base of palaeosol VII. The 15 cultural-chronological complexes were further positioned within the pedosedimentary sequence, taking into account their inferred stratigraphic background as well as the degree of weathering of the lithics. The earliest assemblages were distributed respectively in the upper part of palaeosol VII (complex VI) and within the alluvial deposits prior to the Brunhes–Matuyama boundary (complexes VII and VIII). A new section opened at Gostry Verkh has allowed a complementary reading of the sequence. In this way, the reproducibility of the main pedosedimentary units previously described could be tested, as well as the presence of reversed magnetisation. Palaeoclimatic analysis of the sequence has been improved by micromorphological analysis of the main pedological units. The new research also aimed at providing better control of the stratigraphic positioning of the cultural assemblages. Consequently, five Middle and Early Paleolithic assemblages were discarded, including complex VIII, as their situation regarding the local pedosedimentary context is poorly documented. At present in Korolevo, only levels VI and VII were determined to be Early Paleolithic.

Basin morphology and depositional stratigraphy of Lake Donggi Cona on the north-eastern Tibetan Plateau has been studied with echo depth sounding and shallow seismic sub-bottom profiling. The basin is a pull-apart structure situated at the highly active Kunlun fault. It is characterised by a 92 m deep graben structure in the western part of the lake basin, and a shallow eastern lake part, the latter filled up with fluvial sediments from a large alluvial plain. Three prominent morphological levels were identified at 24 m, 39 m and 57 m below present lake level. They were partly created by basin subsidence, while the deposition of prograding delta sediments primarily formed the morphological steps. The inherited tectonic structures control on-going neotectonic activity, which seems to have only minor influence on present basin morphology. The basin is filled by sediments of at least 30 m thickness in the depocentre. Three major depositional units can be distinguished. In comparison with lithological changes in a sediment core, they give evidence of pronounced lake-level fluctuations and dramatic changes in lake volume. A numerical age datum of w19 cal ka BP at the base of the sediment core allows a tentative reconstruction of Late Glacial to Holocene lake development. A very low base level preceded a time of delta formation during higher lake level, i.e. w26 m lower than present during Last Glacial Maximum, creating a lake of only 18% of its present size. At the transition to Holocene the lake-level rose very quickly changing to a deep lake environment. Thus, transgression may have promoted maximum lake stands.

Palamari Bay is located on the northeastern coast of Skyros Island (Sporades Islands, Aegean Sea). At the northern edge of the bay a fortified prehistoric settlement is found, dated between 2800 and 1700 BC (Early Bronze Age II–Middle Bronze Age I). Detailed geomorphological mapping of the coastal alluvial plain and paleontological, micropaleontological, palynological, sedimentological and micromorphological studies of the Holocene coastal deposits have been conducted in order to reconstruct the palaeoenvironment and the landscape evolution of the broader area of Palamari Bay. Three main sedimentary units were recognized (A, B and C, from oldest to youngest). The lowermost sedimentary unit A, deposited between before 7500 and 3500 cal BP, consists of sediment deposited from high to moderate energy fresh water flows with some suspended load fallout in established water bodies. The microfauna indicates a shallow fresh water environment. However, a tendency to oligohaline conditions was established gradually. During the same period, the Palamari area was characterized by open mixed deciduous forests that gradually retreated as a possible consequence of the intensification of anthropic activity, associated with the settlement of Palamari. Indications of cultivating and grazing activities in the vicinity of the lagoon were identified, pointing to a strong human presence since the Neolithic. Between about 6000 and 3500 cal BP, the embayment was a lagoon southeasterly connected to the sea, therefore sheltered and protected from northeastern winds. The overlying unit B (ca. 3500–800 cal BP) is characterized by the dominance of brackish water microfauna, indicating a brackish stagnant shallow water depositional environment, which was periodically supplied with fresh water from the surrounding springs. As the result of the continuous sea-level rise during the Late Holocene, part of the northern headland was submerged. The decline of the Palamari settlement at the time of the establishment of Unit B might be related to the observed changes that rendered the embayment a restricted body of water. The uppermost sedimentary unit C corresponds to a backshore environment dominated by aeolian activity modified by fluvial processes.

Holocene palaeoenvironmental changes in the area of the prehistoric settlement of Megali Vrysi close to the village of Agia Paraskevi in Central Greece, 5 km east of Lamia City, were investigated. The area is situated in the low flat alluvial plain on the outskirts of Sperchios Valley that is bordered NNW to ENE by a rocky, hilly ridge of the Othrys Mountain foothills, 5.5 km away from the present coastline. The Megali Vrysi site is considered to be an important Mediterranean prehistoric commercial centre. Reconstruction of the palaeoenvironmental changes of the broader area adds new information concerning the general palaeogeographical setting of the settlement. Multidisciplinary research involved a detailed geomorphological survey combined with stratigraphical, palaeontological, and geophysical studies. The penetrated strata differentiated into 4 units from top to bottom. The first represents the archaeological strata. The second consists of the freshwater marshy sediments, while the third is the transition layer between the second and the deeper fourth group of marine – lagoonal sediments. The Holocene stratigraphy data was combined with the 14 C-AMS dating results and showed a marine palaeoenvironment (∼ 5500 BC) gradually having shifted to a coastal – lagoonal one (∼3500 BC) and finally changed to a freshwater marshy environment (∼2500 BC). The comparison between ages and depths of the relative sea level points allowed the estimation of the sea level rise rate for the Agia Paraskevi area which is considerably lower than the one proposed for the Aegean Sea in the same time period. This considerable offset is attributed to the intensive tectonic uplift of the study area due to the tectonic deformation of the Sperchios Valley and this is probably why the prehistoric coastal settlement remained on the surface and unaffected from the sea transgression for more than 7000 yrs during Holocene.

Late Quaternary basin fill deposits exposed in the north-western part of the plain of Marvdasht were investigated in order to elucidate the nature of near-surface basin fill deposits as well as the timing of sediment aggradation, soil formation and incision of Kor River. Besides sedimentological and paleopedological analysis, a chronological frame was set up by infrared stimulated luminescence (IRSL) and radiocarbon dating. The near-surface basin fill consists of silty to clayey fluvial and aeolian deposits documenting gradual horizontal and vertical changes of low velocity fluvial and limnic sedimentation on the one hand and subaerial deposition on the other hand. The accumulation of the sediments decreased during a phase of soil formation possibly between 27 and 22 ka. This phase is represented by a strongly developed brown paleosol which developed under a climate similar to today, while contemporaneously formed grey paleosols indicate topographically wet conditions in backswamp paleo-environments. Between about 21 and 7 ka, high rates of sediment deposition occurred and the upper sediments of the plain accumulated, probably under drier and cooler climatic conditions than today. From about 16 to 10 ka, a gradually dessicating lake covered parts of the plain. At the same time, several weakly developed brown and grey paleosols were formed indicating comparatively stable paleo-environments with strongly reduced sediment accumulation and/or topographically moist paleo-environments in the alluvial plain. The formation of the strongly developed modern soils started after a change to moister climatic conditions during the early to mid Holocene, most likely between 7 and 4 ka. Increased river incision has started at about 10 ka and was likely retarded at about 4 ka owing to mid Holocene tectonic uplift in the lower parts of the basin.

The interpretation of high-resolution seismic profiles and core data collected in the western Somma-Vesuvius volcano documents a stratigraphic unit consisting of a voluminous debris avalanche that was covered by pyroclastic gravity current deposits after entering the sea. Based on the stratigraphic position together with the ages of the dated Somma-Vesuvius Plinian eruptions, this unit was linked to the ∼3.5 ka-old Avellino Plinian eruption and correlated and mapped in offshore and onshore areas. The deposition of the thick Avellino unit had a strong impact on the physical environment of the volcano's western sector, producing hundreds of metres of prograding coastline and the formation of a morphological barrier in the alluvial plain. The striking erosional and depositional features that characterise the top of the Avellino unit along the coast suggest that the entrance of the debris avalanche into the sea triggered a tsunami that struck the Naples Bay coast. The hazardous geologic events include both the sea-facing flank failure of the volcano (producing the debris avalanche and tsunami) and the Avellino Plinian eruption (producing pumice fall and surge clouds) that profoundly affected several human settlements located within a 20 km radius of the volcano, causing the decline of the Bronze Age communities.

The piedmont area of the River Tronto (Italy) is characterised by Pleistocene and Holocene terraces at progressive elevations a.s.l. After the formation of wide unpaired meander terraces during the Early Holocene, the river created a 20-m-deep gorge into bedrock in its inner part. In mid-valley, the thalweg progressively enlarges and the Late Pleistocene and Holocene terraces converge downstream. A wide alluvial plain was formed during braid-plain aggradation from ca. 4.3 BP, to the end of the 19th century, associated with slope erosion activated by human activities. Since the end of the 20th century, two series of artificial levees were created in order to prevent floods. Due to the reduced dimensions of the artificial river bed, floods still affect large parts of the plain after extreme events. In the coastal sector, during the Early Holocene, a large bay extended approximately 3 km inland from the present-day coastline. A barrier beach evolved during the Bronze–Iron Age and, until the Middle Ages, the river mouth entered a large lagoon. Progradation occurred from then until the beginning of the 20th century, when a delta extended up to 500 m seaward. During the 20th century, following the creation of the artificial levees and quarrying the beach underwent coastal erosion, and had to be protected by breakwater reefs. The anthropogenic modifications and their effects are among the main factors in the Holocene evolution of the landscape.

The Himalaya, an amalgamation of different lithotectonic units brought together during, and even before, the Himalayan orogeny, has been subjected to various phases of denudation since the Palaeogene. Sediments derived by erosion of these lithotectonic units in different proportions were delivered to the Himalayan foreland. The nature and proportions of sediments from various lithotectonic units delivered to the foreland varied in response to the prevailing tectonic and climatic conditions during the orogeny. The geochemistry of sediments collected from floodplain, river channels and reworked aeolian sediments from the Delhi and Moradabad areas of the Ganges plain of the foreland basin indicates that they were derived from moderately weathered sedimentary sources. Further, the results also suggest that the sediments are not subjected to any significant post-depositional chemical weathering. High tectonic instability in the source area, and the geomorphology and cycles of aggradation and degradation in fluvial regimes in the Ganges Plain do not favor much chemical weathering. Homogenization of various lithotectonic units of the Himalaya through several episodes of sedimentary reworking is shown by the rare earth elements (REE) geochemistry of the sediments. The predominant source, for the homogeneous sediments, is likely the High Himalayan Crystalline or the Tertiary sub-Himalayan sediments, again the later was derived from High Himalayan Crystalline. If so, the Ganges alluvial plain is geochemically a Quaternary extension of Tertiary sub-Himalaya. The average composition of lithologies subjected to erosion in the Himalaya appears to be better represented by the alluvial mud present in the plain.

Analyses on 27 sediment cores taken from the bottom of the Szczecin Lagoon allowed environmental reconstruction of the postglacial main stages of basin development, based on detailed sedimentological, geochemical, diatomological and malacological studies of selected key cores. Studies revealed that during the Late Glacial and Holocene this area developed in several stages. In the Late Glacial the whole study area constituted a low alluvial plain. At the turn from Younger Dryas to Holocene the alluvial plain was cut through by the Odra river to a level of 10–11 m below sea level (b.s.l.). Along with the first phases of the Holocene marine transgression at the southern Baltic Sea's coasts the accumulation of the limnic-swampy deposits began in this lower part of the Odra valley. At ca. 6–6.5 ka BP the transgression proceeded and Littorina Sea waters flooded the area. At that time the Szczecin Lagoon constituted a marine embayment in which series of sands, partly rich in malacofauna, was deposited. The development of the Swina barrier resulted in the isolation of the embayment from the direct inflow of Baltic Sea waters.

Trench stratigraphy and morphotectonic analysis was used to examine the recent evolution of the Helike (Eliki) Plain and Eliki Fault. The entire alluvial plain of the Kerynites and Vouraikos Rivers, which cross the Eliki Fault, has subsided at rate of 1.4 mm/yr, resulting in the burial of the Late Hellenistic-Roman occupation horizons under ⩽3 m of fluvial and colluvial sediments. Along the eastern segment of the Eliki Fault five trenches have been excavated and their 5000-yr old fluvial and colluvial deposits have been studied in association with the fault strand imprinted on them. The Kerynites River crosses at high angle the Eliki Fault and appears to be sensitive in tectonic movements related with the Eliki Fault. Sedimentation in the alluvial plain and the fluvial geomorphology of the Kerynites River is important for understanding the fault evolution and the burial of the ancient (4th century BC) Helike city. The Kerynites River course highlights breaching deformation is the more likely to connect East and West Eliki Fault segments and that postseismic deformation is a significant mechanism for stress accommodation for part of the west end of the Gulf of Corinth.

The Echigo Plain in the Niigata area of central Japan is a coastal alluvial plain facing the Sea of Japan. The Plain contains several rows of coastal sand dunes. During the Holocene maximum transgression, a barrier island sand body was formed on the plain. However, the distribution of this barrier island is partially intermittent. Based on facies analysis of cores, the barrier island succession was found to be buried by alluvium in the central part of the Echigo Plain. The barrier sand bodies do occur in the central part of the Echigo Plain, but they are deeply subsided and tilted by an active fault in the western margin of the plain. The alluvium in this area records a history of subsidence and changes in the depositional system due to the movements on the active fault.

The relief features of the Apennine chain have been developed in a complex geomorphological and geological evolution from Neogene to Quaternary. In order to define regional geomorphological characteristics of the central and eastern part of the Abruzzi region (Central Italy), between the Fucino plane and the Adriatic coast, a schematic map of morphostructural elements, structural landforms and erosional landforms was constructed. The results point out the clear coherence of present landforms with the tectonic framework in the Abruzzi area. In the Chain area exhumed thrust ridges and faulted homocline ridges are present (generally NW–SE, NNW–SSE, N–S), separated by tectonic valleys, fault line valleys, tectonic basins and tectonic-karstic basins, partially filled up with continental deposits. In the Piedmont periadriatic area the most important morphological elements are represented by homocline relief (gently NE dipping), mesa relief, dip-stream valleys (SW–NE), and alluvial plains. The latter grade eastwards towards the Coastal Plain.

Lake Lewis is the furthest from the coast of Australia's salt lakes and lies at the southern edge of influence of the Australian monsoon regime. The MacDonnell Ranges south of the lake intercept moist air masses crossing the region and efficiently deliver water and sediment to the lake and its surrounding alluvial plain. We describe lacustrine, fluvial and aeolian environments of the basin and report optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) dates from representative sediments. A long period of generally wetter conditions during most of the Pleistocene is represented by thick uniform lacustrine clay beneath and near Lake Lewis. This is overlain by more heterogeneous lacustrine sediments deposited since hydrologic closure of the basin, which indicate fluctuating climatic conditions. OSL results show that dune building in the basin commenced before 95 ka, when salinity at the depocentre was high. Dune building peaked around 23–21 ka. OSL ages of fluvial deposits show that floods occurred during the last 20 ka, following the last phase of maximum aridity in the region.

Pollen, plant macrofossils, phytoliths, carbon isotopes, and alluvial history from sediments exposed along the South Fork of the Big Nemaha River, southeastern Nebraska, USA, provide an integrated reconstruction of changes in Holocene vegetation, climate, and fluvial activity. From 9000 to 8500 uncalibrated 14 C yr BP, climate became more arid and the floodplain and alluvial fans in the main valley aggraded rapidly, upland deciduous forest declined, and prairie attained its Holocene dominance. From 8500 to 5800 yr BP. upland forest elements disappeared, and even riparian trees were sparse under dry climatic conditions. Alluvial fans continued to aggrade but aggradation in the main valley was interrupted by a stable episode 7000 yr BP. From 5800 to 3100 yr BP, riparian forests returned to prominence, and droughts were intermittent. Alluviation was slower and punctuated by two major episodes of channel incision and terrace formation in the main valley. Aggradation on alluvial fans slowed and finally ceased near the end of this period. During a short dry interval from 3100 to 2700 yr BP riparian trees (except elm) disappeared, and prairie and weedy species became more abundant. This interval is represented by the organic Roberts Creek Member, and the alluvial setting was a slightly incised meandering channel belt. Habitats became similar to presettlement conditions during the last 2700 yr BP. Weedy taxa dominate modern samples, reflecting widespread disturbance. Alluvial fans and terrace surfaces were stable during the last 2500 years, but episodes of floodplain aggradation were punctuated by incision of the main channel.

This study involves the geomorphological, sedimentological and paleoclimatological aspects of the Upper Parana River at Porto Rico (State of Parana, Brazil). The alluvial plain is composed of a braided system (main channel) with island and sandy bars, and an anastomosing system (involving secondary channels, tributaries and a complex of swamps, pools and natural levees). River discharge in its upper course varies from 8400 to 13,000 m3/s (minimum of 2550 m3/s and maximum of 33,740 m3/s). Solid discharge reaches 27 × 106 tons/year for suspended sediments and 3 × 106 tons/year for load sediments. Through echobathymetric survey, bed forms were grouped in ripples, megaripples, dunes and sand waves. A detailed study of the sedimentology, heavy minerals and facies architecture was applied to the two major geomorphic provinces and their subenvironments: channel province (with sand bar and bed form deposits) and overbank province (with natural levee, flood basin, crevasse and island deposits). Palynological preliminary studies show that during the Late Pleistocene the area was dominated by grassland and savannas under drier climatic conditions. Since the beginning of the Holocene there has been a generalized transition to a humid phase and the present Broadleaf Forest occupies the area. Some hypotheses can be formulated for the evolution of the area. (1) The first order architectural element channel (CH) was generated during the Pleistocene associated with climatic changes and tectonism. The alluvial valley was filled up by alluvial colluvial deposits at the end of the Pleistocene (channel deposits present > 40 ka BP). (2) Tectonism and climatic changes (Atlantic Climatic Optimum) generated a new valley bottom (5–8 m below the former level) and a wide meandering plain was built up (4000–4500 BP). (3) A recent fluvial system created a new terrace 3 m above the normal water level.