Ancient harbour sediment archives can provide long-term records of changes in coastal palaeoenvironments, settlement history, and anthropogenic impacts on coastal systems. In this study, multi-proxy geoarchaeological investigations were conducted at two long-occupied coastal archaeological sites (Liman Tepe-Clazomenae, western Anatolia, Turkey; Lechaion, northeast Peloponnese, Greece) to document coastal palaeoenvironmental change and harbour basin evolution. Multi-proxy core analyses (micropalaeontology, sedimentary facies) were integrated with geophysical mapping and micro-XRF core scanning (chemofacies) to investigate harbour sediment archives and to reconstruct coastal palaeoenvironments. At Liman Tepe-Clazomenae, the Neolithic to Early Bronze Age (ca. 6700-3000 BCE) coastal palaeogeography was reconstructed using a large subsurface database (>20 cores, ~600-line km geophysical surveys) to determine palaeoshoreline positions and potential locations of prehistoric proto-harbour basins. Geophysical mapping revealed a submerged palaeolandscape with relict river channels and shorelines recording inundation of a middle Neolithic coastal plain. A transgressive systems tract was identified by marine foreshore and shoreface deposits overlying paleosol and lagoonal sediments. Shoreline positions were estimated by back-strip analysis of the de-compacted sediment thickness from the marine transgressive surface. During the middle Neolithic (ca. 6700 BCE) the shoreline was >500 m seaward of the modern shore and transgressed to its maximum extent (~1 km inland) during the Chalcolithic (ca. 4000 BCE). After 4000 BCE, sea level decelerated and the coastline prograded under a high-stand systems tract by barrier accretion. The transition from a Late Bronze Age (LBA) proto-harbour to Iron Age semi-enclosed harbour basin was recorded by shifts in geochemical proxies (Ti/Ca, Si, Br), foraminifera, and sedimentary facies. Shifts in Ti/Ca record potential signals of land clearance and evidence for a 300-year LBA drought period (“Greek Dark Age”). Geophysical mapping of Clazomenae’s Archaic (ca. 7th-6th c. BCE) harbour basin revealed two rubble-constructed breakwater structures and a submerged headland separating east and west basins. Linear magnetic anomalies within the eastern mole indicate a buried (LBA?) pier or breakwater within the rubble mass. At Lechaion, a multi-proxy analysis was conducted on seven cores to determine the timing and causes of the Roman harbour decline and abandonment. Coring identified a basin-wide paraconformity surface separating harbour sediments and overlying marl deposits, which records a rapid transition from a marine-estuarine to restricted evaporitic lake environment. Rapid basin restriction was indicated by a decrease in terrigenous elements (Si, Ti, K, Fe), increased Sr and δ18O, and a shift from marine-estuarine to marsh-freshwater taxa. The event records the 6th c. CE tectonic uplift and destruction of the harbour basin, linked with uplift on the nearby Perachora Peninsula (~1.1 m) during destructive earthquakes in 524 and 551/552 CE. No evidence was found for tsunami events proposed in previous work. This study has documented the development, evolution, and abandonment of harbour basins on two tectonically active coastlines with complex relative sea level histories. Palaeogeographic mapping at Liman Tepe has identified a drowned palaeolandscape with areas of high archaeological potential for submerged prehistoric sites and proto-harbour anchorage areas. At Lechaion, multi-proxy analysis has resolved a long-standing debate, demonstrating that the harbour basin decline in the 6th c. CE was caused by coastal tectonic uplift and rapid basin restriction. / Dissertation / Doctor of Science (PhD)

Comprendre la complexité des relations entre nature et sociétés a toujours constitué un défi pour les recherches dans le domaine de l'environnement. A l'ère de la compilation de données dans de nombreuses disciplines, la modélisation constitue l'une des options les plus attractives pour comprendre et traduire les évolutions du milieu naturel. Les objectifs principaux de ce travail de recherche sont 1) de restituer la structure du couvert végétal régional et d'en retracer les évolutions au cours de l'Holocène au sein de deux régions du nord-ouest de la France, le Bassin parisien et le Massif armoricain, et 2) de les interpréter en termes de relations entre les sociétés pré- et protohistoriques et leur milieu naturel. Pour cela, nous avons mis en place une démarche méthodologique visant à 1) redéfinir le cadre chronologique des séquences polliniques rassemblées pour les deux régions, 2) tester, adapter puis appliquer un modèle de reconstitution quantitative du couvert végétal, 3) définir une histoire de la végétation estimée relative à chaque aire géographique modélisée, 4) comparer ces histoires régionales et 5) les confronter aux informations disponibles en matière de densités de sites archéologiques et de proximité de ces sites aux points de sondages polliniques. Des cadres structurant l'évolution du couvert végétal pour chacune des deux régions étudiées ressortent les grandes étapes de la mise en place des paysages au cours de l'Holocène. Des spécificités régionales ont cependant pu être identifiées, tant en matière de chronologie de l'évolution de la végétation estimée qu'en matière de proportions relatives des taxons présents. Une certaine singularité doit donc être reconnue à l'évolution des paysages holocènes de chacune de ces deux parties du nord-ouest de la France. On remarque notamment des dynamiques et des niveaux d'anthropisation tout à fait distincts entre Bassin parisien et Massif armoricain de la fin du Mésolithique à celle du Néolithique. A l'inverse, on retrouve de part et d'autre une certaine similarité entre les proportions estimées des taxons marqueurs d'anthropisation entre la fin du Néolithique et celle de l'âge du Bronze. Des liens évidents entre les variations de l'impact anthropique enregistré et celles de la densité des occupations reconnues ont par ailleurs pu être observés. / Understanding the complex relationship between nature and societies has always been a challenge for environmental sciences. With the growing impact of databases in many disciplines, the modelling appears as one of the most attractive methods for understanding and describing environmental changes. The main objectives of this research work are 1) to reconstruct the structure of the regional vegetation cover and to determine its trends during the Holocene in two regions of north-western France, the Paris Basin and the Armorican Massif, and 2) to interpret them in terms of relationships between the pre- and proto-historic societies and their environment. Thus, we set up a methodological approach aimed at 1) redefining the chronological framework of pollen sequences collected for both regions, 2) testing, adapting and then applying a model in order to produce quantitative estimates of vegetation cover, 3) defining a history of the estimated vegetation for each area modelled, 4) comparing these regional results and 5) confronting them to the available informations in terms of densities of archaeological sites and proximity of these sites to the pollen samples locations. From the general framework structuring the vegetation cover changes for both study areas stand out the major steps of the development of natural landscapes during the Holocene. Nevertheless, regional distinctive features were identified; both in terms of chronology of the vegetation cover changes, than in terms of relative proportions of taxa in the vegetation estimates. Some singularity must be recognized in the Holocene landscape evolution for each of these two parts of north-western France. We noticed distinct rates and rhythms, concerning the anthropogenic impact on the Paris Basin and the Armorican Massif estimated vegetation covers, from the late Mesolithic to the late Neolithic. On the other hand, we found similarities between both areas concerning the estimated proportions for anthropogenic markers taxa between the late Neolithic and the late Bronze Age. Clear links between changes observed in human impact on the vegetation cover estimates and those recorded in the density of archaeological sites were also noticed.

High-resolution records of early Holocene deposits are rare, and as a consequence reconstruction of terrestrial environments very soon after the deglaciation has often been difficult. In this study the palaeoenvironmental conditions of early Holocene (c. 10600-7500 cal. yr BP) are reconstructed in the Värriötunturit area of northeastern Finland, using evidence from plant macrofossils and pollen preserved in a lake sediment sequence retrieved from the small lake Kuutsjärvi. Special emphasis is put on the environment immediately following the deglaciation as the base of the sediment sequence is rich in minerogenic material interpreted to have been deposited by meltwater pulses from the retreating ice sheet. The abundance and variety of fossil remains in these early meltwater deposits provide evidence for a very productive ice-marginal environment in the area between the lake and the ice sheet, and the presence of tree-type Betula macro remains as well as high percentage values of tree-type Betula pollen suggests that a subarctic birch forest established just a few years after the deglaciation. In the following centuries the birch forest around the lake became rich in an under growth of ferns, and at c. 9400 cal. yr BP a transition into a mixed pine and birch forest took place. Due to absence of indicator plant taxa in the sediment it was not possible to reconstruct temperature conditions for any parts of the sequence in this study. However, the rapid colonisation of birch forests suggests that the climate was warm already during deglaciation, which is also in accordance with climatic conditions reconstructed for the early Holocene in the nearby Sokli area just 10 km away, as well as in other parts of Fennoscandia and Russia.

Ostie et Portus sont deux villes portuaires emblématiques de la façade littorale de la Rome antique. Construites au contact du Tibre et de la mer Tyrrhénienne, elles se situent dans des milieux géomorphologiquement très instables (mobilité du fleuve et du trait de côte). Nous nous proposons dans cette étude de reconstituer les dynamiques hydrosédimentaires du Tibre deltaïque à l’époque romaine (principalement aux Ier s. av. – Ier s. ap. J.-C.) et d’en identifier les conséquences sur le système Ostie-Portus. Pour mener à bien ce travail, nous nous appuyons sur des données sédimentaires issues de carottages réalisés dans le paléoméandre d’Ostie et les canaux de Portus. Ces résultats sont ensuite confrontés aux données archéologiques et historiques. Le croisement des données sédimentaires, archéologiques et textuelles permet d’envisager une crise hydrosédimentaire d’origine anthropoclimatique dans le bassin versant du Tibre s’étalant de la seconde partie du Ier s. av. J.-C. au début du Ier s. ap. J.-C. A Ostie, cette crise s’exprime par : (1) une accumulation de sédiments à l’embouchure du Tibre qui conduit au comblement du port fluvial d’Ostie ; (2) plusieurs inondations importantes (parfois torrentielles – cf. Rome) ; et (3) peut-être une hausse des niveaux phréatiques. A cela s’ajoute, avant ou pendant cette crise, une forte variabilité latérale de l’embouchure et du paléoméandre d’Ostie, qui a pu affecter le développement d’Ostie. Contraint par une forte pression démographique à Rome et par le contexte socio-économique, Claude fonde Portus au milieu du Ier s. ap. J.-C. Cette ville portuaire maritime est conçue dans l’idée de pallier les insuffisances du port d’Ostie : (1) les capacités d’accueil du port sont considérablement accrues (bassin de 200 ha) ; (2) le site d’implantation est choisi 3 km au nord de l’embouchure du Tibre pour échapper aux contraintes hydrosédimentaires qui se posaient à Ostie. Pour des raisons logistiques (transport des marchandises vers Rome), la planification de Portus est accompagnée d’un système de canaux relié au Tibre. Les ingénieurs romains prennent cependant soin de dissocier le système des canaux de celui des bassins portuaires (gestion de la charge solide) et certains de ces canaux sont envisagés comme évacuateurs de crue (gestion des inondations). Les études sédimentaires menées permettent de décrire les modalités de fonctionnement et de comblement de certains de ces canaux (Canale Traverso, Canale Romano). Ce travail est complété par une réflexion méthodologique sur le diagramme de Passega et une modélisation de l’évolution holocène de la partie nord du delta du Tibre à partir de l’analyse de carottes. / Ostia and Portus are two important harbour cities located on theThyrrenian coast, near the ancient Rome. This location corresponds to a fastly changing landscape (river and coastline mobility). The aim of this study is to reconstruct the Tiber hydrosedimentary dynamics in its delta plain during Ancient times (mainly in the 1st c. BC - 1st c. AD) and to identify their impact on the system Ostia-Portus. To complete this work, we analyse sedimentary cores drilled in the palaeomeander of Ostia and the canals of Portus. These results are compared to the archaeological and historical data. Crossing sedimentary, archaeological and textual data allows to consider hydrosedimentary anthropoclimatic crisis in the Tiber River watershed, during the period between the second part of the Ist century BC and the beginning of the Ist century AD. This crisis is expressed in Ostia, by: (1) a sediment accumulation at the mouth of the Tiber River, leading to the filling of the river mouth harbour of Ostia; (2) several major floods (at Rome - sometimes torrential floods); and (3) perhaps an increase of the groundwater levels. During this hydrosedimentological crisis or before, a strong lateral mobility of the Tiber mouth and the palaeomeander of Ostia probably affect the development of the city. Obliged by a strong demographic pressure in Rome and by the socio-economical context, Claude built Portus in the middle of the 1st century AD. Portus is planned with the idea to overcome the shortcomings of Ostia’s harbour: (1) by an increased harbour basin area (200 ha), and (2) by its establishment, 3 km north of the Tiber mouth, to avoid the main hydrosedimentary constraints. For logistical reasons (goods transport to Rome), Portus includes a fluvial canal system, connected to the Tiber River. However, Roman engineers take care to separate the canal system and the harbour basins (sediment load) and some of these canals are considered floodways (flood management). Sedimentary analysis characterise the canal functioning and filling (Canale Traverso, Canale Romano). This work is complemented by a methodological reflection on the Passega diagram and by a modeling of the Holocene evolution of the Tiber delta’s northern part , based onthe analysis of core samples.

Time and circumstances for the disappearance of Neanderthals and its relationship with the advent of Modern Humans are not yet sufficiently resolved, especially in case of the Iberian Peninsula. Reconstructing palaeoenvironmental conditions during the last glacial period is crucial to clarifying whether climate deteriorations or competition and contacts with Modern Humans played the pivotal role in driving Neanderthals to extinction. A high-resolution loess record from the Upper Tagus Basin in central Spain demonstrates that the Neanderthal abandonment of inner Iberian territories 42 kyr ago coincided with the evolvement of hostile environmental conditions, while archaeological evidence testifies that this desertion took place regardless of modern humans’ activities. According to stratigraphic findings and stable isotope analyses, this period corresponded to the driest environmental conditions of the last glacial apart from an even drier period linked to Heinrich Stadial 3. Our results show that during Marine Isotope Stages (MIS) 4 and 2 climate deteriorations in interior Iberia temporally coincided with northern hemisphere cold periods (Heinrich stadials). Solely during the middle MIS 3, in a period surrounding 42 kyr ago, this relation seems not straightforward, which may demonstrate the complexity of terrestrial climate conditions during glacial periods.

Les structures de déformation pré-lithification s’enregistrent dans les sédiments meubles. Ces structures sont abondantes dans les domaines sous-glaciaires et marins profonds en raison du développement de surpressions de fluide. A partir de cas d’études choisis dans ces deux environnements, leurs implications sur les (1)reconstructions paléoenvironnementales, leurs impacts sur la (2) morphologie glaciaire, et sur les (3) propriétés pétrophysiques ont pu être définis.(1) L’analyse de ces structures de déformation a permis de mieux contraindre les paléoenvironnements sédimentaires. Ces structures de déformation ont été utilisées comme des «proxy » permettant d’estimer les variations de la vitesse d’écoulement, de l’épaisseur de glace, de la production d’eaux de fonte et de la position de la marge glaciaire.(2) Les séries sédimentaires des vallées tunnels ordoviciennes enregistrent la mise en place de nombreuses structures de déformation liées aux surpressions de fluides. L’analyse de ces structures a permis de proposer un nouveau modèle de creusement des vallées tunnels induits par des pressions de fluides élevées. Ce modèle de creusement, lié aux surpressions de fluide, est favorisé dans les zones d’inter ice-stream. A l’inverse, sous les ice-stream, l’écoulement des eaux de fonte se produit à l’interface glace-substrat et favorise d’autres modèles de formation des vallées tunnels.(3) Les processus de remobilisation sédimentaire ont un impact sur les propriétés pétrophysiques des réservoirs sableux. Les études pétrophysiques menées sur des grès déposés en environnements marins profonds et glaciaires ont permis de mettre en évidence l’impact des surpressions de fluides sur les propriétés réservoirs des sables. Les processus de fluidisation sont capable de créer de bons réservoirs, tandisque les processus d’élutriations ont tendance a réduire la porosité/perméabilité. / Soft-sediment deformation structures (SSDs) occur in unconsolidated sediments, during or shortly after deposition. SSDs are abundant in subglacial and deep-marine environments because of the development of fluid overpressure. Case studies of these two sedimentary environments were used (1) to reconstruct palaeoenvironments from SSDS, and (2) to define the impacts of SSDS on glacial morphologies and (3) petrophysical properties.(1) Analyses of strain regimes, deformation mechanisms, and chronologies in SSDs served to improve palaeoenvironmental reconstructions. These structures were used as proxys to estimate variations of ice flow velocities, ice thickness, meltwater production, and position of the ice margin.(2) The sedimentary series of ordovician tunnel valleys record numerous SSDs induced by fluid overpressure. A new model of tunnel valley formation controlled by the increase of porewater pressure in the bed is proposed. This model of formation occurs in inter-ice stream zones, where meltwater is transferred to the substratum. In ice-stream corridors, meltwater circulates at the ice-bed interface and promotes the formation of tunnel valleys controlled by meltwater processes.(3) Remobilisation processes triggered by the increase of fluid pressure have an impact on the granular framework and on the geometry of reservoirs. Petrophysical studies of subglacial and deep-marine sandstones demonstrated the impact of fluid overpressure on reservoir properties. Processes of fluidisation are responsible for the increase in porosity/permeability, while elutriation processes lead to a decrease in these petrophysical properties.

Time and circumstances for the disappearance of Neanderthals and its relationship with the advent of Modern Humans are not yet sufficiently resolved, especially in case of the Iberian Peninsula. Reconstructing palaeoenvironmental conditions during the last glacial period is crucial to clarifying whether climate deteriorations or competition and contacts with Modern Humans played the pivotal role in driving Neanderthals to extinction. A high-resolution loess record from the Upper Tagus Basin in central Spain demonstrates that the Neanderthal abandonment of inner Iberian territories 42 kyr ago coincided with the evolvement of hostile environmental conditions, while archaeological evidence testifies that this desertion took place regardless of modern humans’ activities. According to stratigraphic findings and stable isotope analyses, this period corresponded to the driest environmental conditions of the last glacial apart from an even drier period linked to Heinrich Stadial 3. Our results show that during Marine Isotope Stages (MIS) 4 and 2 climate deteriorations in interior Iberia temporally coincided with northern hemisphere cold periods (Heinrich stadials). Solely during the middle MIS 3, in a period surrounding 42 kyr ago, this relation seems not straightforward, which may demonstrate the complexity of terrestrial climate conditions during glacial periods.

The Western Mediterranean realm is considered as a region highly sensitive with regard to climate changes and landscape transformations. Within its semi arid and semi humid areas, even slight climatic changes but also human interventions may result in far-reaching consequences in respect of environment and ecological systems. Thus, research on landscape development has a high relevance in geosciences, especially in the light of current climate change research. It is a major concern to reveal regularities and patterns in past landscape evolution in order to provide a basis for the assessment of future developments. For the reconstruction of late Quaternary environmental conditions fluvial sediments play an important role as they almost uniquely reflect landscapes and landscape changes on a regional scale. This is due to the fact that fluvial dynamics and all enclosed processes are based on multi-causal relationships and a variety of factors like climatic conditions, vegetation development, human impact, or tectonic activity finds expression in fluvial dynamics. About 70 % of the Iberian Peninsula is influenced by moist Atlantic air masses, but in the whole area there is a considerable research gap concerning the exploration of fluvial archives. Taking this into account, this dissertation aims to systematically work out fluvial sediment successions of two river systems, namely the Jarama River in central Spain and the Guadalete River in southwestern Spain. For complementary considerations, first stratigraphic results from the middle to lower Guadalquivir River in southern Spain will be consulted. In a first step, the objective is to intensively study and document sediment profiles for the purpose of deriving a valuable composite profile for each river system. In a second step, the significance of these composite profiles regarding palaeoenvironmental conditions as well as changes will be examined. Beside the reaction of fluvial systems towards climatic changes, relationships with other influencing factors are a main issue. On the basis of a supra-regional comparison a possible coupling of fluvial geomorphic systems and large-scale climate fluctuations shall be analyzed. Furthermore, it is intended to address issues like system connectivity or varying response times and response durations. The bases for these considerations are abundant sedimentary profile records supported by electrical resistivity tomography and percussion drillings. Stratigraphic work includes the differentiation of sediment units, the identification of soil horizons, and the correlation of specific layers and horizons across different profile sections based on sedimentologic and pedogenetic characteristics. Subsequent soil-chemical and sedimentological laboratory analyses on certain key-profiles imply grain-size analyses, the measurement of organic carbon content, calcium carbonate content, pedogenic and total iron contents, as well as magnetic susceptibility. Laboratory analyses are used to strengthen results of field work and to differentiate between soils and soil sediments in ambiguous cases. The chronological resolution of the sediment successions will be provided by radiocarbon dating. The final aim is to work out a detailed fluvial sedimentation history for the late Quaternary. The precise characterization of the catchment areas, together with a comparison of the stratigraphic findings and secondary archive information from the literature, will enable the identification of relationships between fluvial dynamics and different influencing factors. In this dissertation, 36 profile sections have been worked out intensively. Furthermore, 13 percussion drillings were conducted in floodplain positions with insufficient exposure conditions. For the chronological frame 70 radiocarbon samples have been dated. The obtained results show a significant pattern of sedimentation periods and phases of stability associated with soil formation for each river system. The sedimentation history of the Guadalete and Guadalquivir Rivers could be reconstructed for the last 15 ka, while conclusions with regard to sedimentation dynamics of the Jarama River could be drawn for a period of 43 ka. Thanks to an abundance of available studies on other terrestrial archives with climatic or environmental relevance, it was possible to assess the influence of different parameters such as climate, vegetation, humankind, tectonics, and base-level changes on fluvial sedimentation dynamics. It emerged that, first and foremost, rapid climate changes had significant impact on the mobilization of sediments in the catchment area as well as their deposition in floodplain positions. On the other hand prolonged periods of climatic amelioration caused floodplain stability along with soil formation, as documented for the time spans between 13.3 and 12.7 ka, 7 and 5.1 ka, 2.8 and 2.3 ka, 1.4 and 1.2 ka, as well as 0.8 and 0.5 ka cal. BP in several river systems. Periods of increased sedimentation were initiated by phases of climatic aridification that affected fluvial systems through the weakening of the vegetation cover and the accentuation of the hydrological discharge regime. Corresponding patterns have been found for the time intervals between 8 and 7 ka, 5 and 3.8 ka, 2.2 and 1.5 ka, as well as around 1 ka and 0.4 ka cal. BP. The supra-regional effectiveness of the factor climate is contrasted by a strong regional individuality of the river catchments that is expressed by further, regionally limited phases of fluvial activity. Crucial to this development – apart from regional climate differences – are, inter alia, tectonic movements as evidenced for the Jarama River system in central Spain, or late Pleistocene and Holocene sea-level fluctuations that primarily affected fluvial dynamics along the lower course of the Guadalete River in southwestern Spain. Furthermore, it can be shown that variations in time and duration of fluvial system response are attributable to differing buffer capacities of river catchments towards external influences. The increase of human impact during the late Holocene apparently provoked a reinforcement of the effects of climatic impulses. There are clear evidences for the participation of humans in the mobilization of sediments; however, concerning the degree of influence it is hardly possible to differentiate between the factors humans and climate. / Der westliche Mediterranraum gilt als landschaftlich und klimatisch hochsensible Region, für deren semiaride bis semihumide Gebiete bereits kleinere klimatische Änderungen, aber auch Eingriffe des Menschen, mit weitreichenden Folgen für Umwelt und ökologische Systeme verbunden sein können. Forschungen zum Landschaftswandel nehmen hier vor allem vor dem Hintergrund des derzeitigen Klimawandels einen hohen Stellenwert in den Geowissenschaften ein. Ein wichtiges Anliegen ist dabei, in früheren Landschaftswandeln Muster zu entdecken, welche als Grundlage für Bewertungen zukünftiger Veränderungen dienen können. Für die Rekonstruktion spätquartärer Umweltbedingungen kommt fluvialen Sedimenten eine besondere Rolle zu. Wie kein anderes Archiv spiegeln fluviale Sedimentabfolgen Landschaftszustände und -entwicklung auf regionaler Ebene wieder. Dies ist dem Umstand geschuldet, dass fluviale Dynamik mit allen inbegriffenen Prozessen auf polykausalen Zusammenhängen beruht und somit eine Vielzahl an Faktoren, wie klimatische Verhältnisse und Vegetationsentwicklung, menschliche Einflussnahme oder tektonische Aktivität Ausdruck in fluvialer Dynamik finden. Von feuchten atlantischen Luftmassen geprägte Gebiete nehmen etwa 70 % der Fläche der Iberischen Halbinsel ein, allerdings besteht hier eine erhebliche Forschungslücke im Bereich der Analyse fluvialer Archive. Diesem Umstand soll in vorliegender Dissertation in Form einer systematischen Aufarbeitung der fluvialen Sedimentabfolgen zweier Flusssysteme in Zentralspanien (Rio Jarama), sowie in SW-Spanien (Rio Guadalete) Rechnung getragen werden. Für ergänzende Betrachtungen werden dabei erste Befunde zur stratigraphischen Gliederung des Guadalquivir-Mittellaufes in S-Spanien herangezogen. Ziel der Arbeiten ist es zunächst über umfangreiche Aufnahmen und Dokumentationen von Sedimentprofilen ein belastbares Standardprofil für jedes Flusssystem zu erarbeiten und dieses hinsichtlich der Aussagekraft in Bezug auf Paläoumweltbedingungen und vor allem -wandeln zu prüfen. Neben der möglichen Reaktion fluvialer Systeme auf klimatische Änderungen, stehen dabei vor allem auch Beziehungsgeflechte zu anderen Einflussfaktoren im Vordergrund. Anhand eines überregionalen Vergleichs soll eine mögliche Kopplung fluvialmorphologischer Systeme an großräumige Klimafluktuationen untersucht werden, zudem soll weiteren Themenkomplexen, wie der Konnektivität verschiedener Systeme oder unterschiedlichen Reaktionszeiten und -geschwindigkeiten nachgegangen werden. Grundlage für diese Betrachtungen bilden dabei aus zahlreichen Geländeaufnahmen resultierende Profilaufnahmen, sowie Ergebnisse geoelektrischer Messungen und Bohrsondierungen. Stratigraphische Arbeiten belaufen sich zunächst auf die Untergliederung verschiedener Sedimenteinheiten, die Ausweisung von Bodenhorizonten, sowie die Korrelation einzelner Schichten und Horizonte über unterschiedliche Profile hinweg anhand charakteristischer sedimentologischer und pedogenetischer Merkmale. Nachfolgende bodenchemische und sedimentologische Laboruntersuchungen an ausgewählten Profilen sollen über die Bestimmung von Korngrößenverhältnissen, Gehalten an organischem Kohlenstoff, Kalk- und Eisengehalten, sowie der magnetischen Suszeptibilität die Geländebefunde stützen und in unklaren Fällen eine Unterscheidung von Böden und Bodensedimenten erleichtern. Die zeitliche Auflösung der Sedimentabfolgen soll über Radiokarbondatierungen realisiert werden, mit dem letztendlichen Ziel, eine detaillierte fluviale Sedimentationsgeschichte für das Spätquartär zu erarbeiten. In einem weiteren Schritt werden begleitend zu einer detaillierten Einzugsgebietscharakteristik die chronostratigraphischen Befunde einem intensiven Vergleich mit in der Literatur verfügbaren Studien an Sekundärarchiven zugeführt, um Beziehungsgeflechte zwischen fluvialer Dynamik und verschiedenen Einflussfaktoren aufzudecken. Im Rahmen dieser Dissertation konnten zunächst 36 Profilaufschlüsse detailliert bearbeitet und zudem 13 Rammkernsondierungen in Flussauenpositionen abgeteuft werden. Für den chronologischen Rahmen wurden 70 Radiokohlenstoffproben datiert. Die Ergebnisse zeigen ein deutliches Muster von Sedimentationsphasen und Zeiten der Stabilität mit einhergehender Bodenbildung für jedes Flusseinzugsgebiet. Dabei konnte die Sedimentationsgeschichte der Flusssysteme Rio Guadalete und Rio Guadalquivir für die letzten 15.000 Jahre und des Rio Jarama für die letzten 43 ka rekonstruiert werden. Dank der Fülle an verfügbaren Studien an terrestrischen Vergleichsarchiven mit klima- und umweltrelevantem Bezug war es möglich, den Einfluss der unterschiedlichen Parameter Klima, Vegetation, Mensch und Tektonik, bzw. Erosionsbasis auf die fluviale Sedimentationsdynamik zu prüfen. So zeigte sich, dass vor allem rasche Klimaänderungen in der Lage waren die Mobilisierung von Sedimenten im Einzugsgebiet und deren Ablagerung in den Flussauen zu initiieren. Dahingegen bewirkten anhaltende klimatische Gunstphasen eine Stabilisierung mit einhergehender Bodenbildung, wie für die Zeiträume zwischen 13.3 und 12.7 ka, 7 und 5.1 ka, 2.8 und 2.3 ka, 1.4 und 1.2 ka, sowie 0.8 und 0.5 ka cal. BP für sämtliche Flusssysteme zu verzeichnen ist. Perioden verstärkter Sedimentation folgten in der Regel Phasen klimatischer Aridifizierung, welche über eine Schwächung der Vegetationsbedeckung und Akzentuierung des hydrologischen Abflussregimes in der Lage waren auf das fluviale System Einfluss zu nehmen. Entsprechende Muster konnten für die Zeiträume zwischen 8 und 7 ka, 5 und 3.8 ka, 2.2 und 1.5 ka, sowie um 1 ka als auch 0.4 ka cal. BP dokumentiert werden. Dem überregional wirksamen Einfluss des Faktors Klima steht jedoch eine starke landschaftsgeschichtliche Individualität der verschiedenen Regionen gegenüber, welche in weiteren, regional begrenzten Phasen fluvialer Aktivität zum Ausdruck kommt. Ausschlaggebend sind hier neben der Ausbildung regionaler Klimaunterschiede unter Anderem tektonische Verstellungen, welche für das in Zentralspanien gelegene System des Rio Jarama belegt werden konnten, oder spätpleistozäne und holozäne Meeresspiegelschwankungen, welche sich vor allem auf die fluviale Dynamik im Unterlauf des in SW-Spanien gelegenen Rio Guadalete auswirkten. Desweiteren können Unterschiede in Reaktionsdauer und -geschwindigkeit fluvialer Systeme mit variierendem Puffervermögen der Flusseinzugsgebiete gegenüber äußeren Einflüssen erklärt werden. Das intensivierte Wirken des Menschen im Spätholozän führte allem Anschein nach zu einer Verstärkung der Wirkung klimatischer Impulse, wobei sich klare Evidenzen für eine Beteiligung des Menschen an der Sedimentmobilisierung erkennen lassen, der Umfang des Einflusses des Menschen aber in der Regel nicht klar von dem des Klimas zu trennen ist.

The Western Mediterranean realm is considered as a region highly sensitive with regard to climate changes and landscape transformations. Within its semi arid and semi humid areas, even slight climatic changes but also human interventions may result in far-reaching consequences in respect of environment and ecological systems. Thus, research on landscape development has a high relevance in geosciences, especially in the light of current climate change research. It is a major concern to reveal regularities and patterns in past landscape evolution in order to provide a basis for the assessment of future developments. For the reconstruction of late Quaternary environmental conditions fluvial sediments play an important role as they almost uniquely reflect landscapes and landscape changes on a regional scale. This is due to the fact that fluvial dynamics and all enclosed processes are based on multi-causal relationships and a variety of factors like climatic conditions, vegetation development, human impact, or tectonic activity finds expression in fluvial dynamics. About 70 % of the Iberian Peninsula is influenced by moist Atlantic air masses, but in the whole area there is a considerable research gap concerning the exploration of fluvial archives. Taking this into account, this dissertation aims to systematically work out fluvial sediment successions of two river systems, namely the Jarama River in central Spain and the Guadalete River in southwestern Spain. For complementary considerations, first stratigraphic results from the middle to lower Guadalquivir River in southern Spain will be consulted. In a first step, the objective is to intensively study and document sediment profiles for the purpose of deriving a valuable composite profile for each river system. In a second step, the significance of these composite profiles regarding palaeoenvironmental conditions as well as changes will be examined. Beside the reaction of fluvial systems towards climatic changes, relationships with other influencing factors are a main issue. On the basis of a supra-regional comparison a possible coupling of fluvial geomorphic systems and large-scale climate fluctuations shall be analyzed. Furthermore, it is intended to address issues like system connectivity or varying response times and response durations. The bases for these considerations are abundant sedimentary profile records supported by electrical resistivity tomography and percussion drillings. Stratigraphic work includes the differentiation of sediment units, the identification of soil horizons, and the correlation of specific layers and horizons across different profile sections based on sedimentologic and pedogenetic characteristics. Subsequent soil-chemical and sedimentological laboratory analyses on certain key-profiles imply grain-size analyses, the measurement of organic carbon content, calcium carbonate content, pedogenic and total iron contents, as well as magnetic susceptibility. Laboratory analyses are used to strengthen results of field work and to differentiate between soils and soil sediments in ambiguous cases. The chronological resolution of the sediment successions will be provided by radiocarbon dating. The final aim is to work out a detailed fluvial sedimentation history for the late Quaternary. The precise characterization of the catchment areas, together with a comparison of the stratigraphic findings and secondary archive information from the literature, will enable the identification of relationships between fluvial dynamics and different influencing factors. In this dissertation, 36 profile sections have been worked out intensively. Furthermore, 13 percussion drillings were conducted in floodplain positions with insufficient exposure conditions. For the chronological frame 70 radiocarbon samples have been dated. The obtained results show a significant pattern of sedimentation periods and phases of stability associated with soil formation for each river system. The sedimentation history of the Guadalete and Guadalquivir Rivers could be reconstructed for the last 15 ka, while conclusions with regard to sedimentation dynamics of the Jarama River could be drawn for a period of 43 ka. Thanks to an abundance of available studies on other terrestrial archives with climatic or environmental relevance, it was possible to assess the influence of different parameters such as climate, vegetation, humankind, tectonics, and base-level changes on fluvial sedimentation dynamics. It emerged that, first and foremost, rapid climate changes had significant impact on the mobilization of sediments in the catchment area as well as their deposition in floodplain positions. On the other hand prolonged periods of climatic amelioration caused floodplain stability along with soil formation, as documented for the time spans between 13.3 and 12.7 ka, 7 and 5.1 ka, 2.8 and 2.3 ka, 1.4 and 1.2 ka, as well as 0.8 and 0.5 ka cal. BP in several river systems. Periods of increased sedimentation were initiated by phases of climatic aridification that affected fluvial systems through the weakening of the vegetation cover and the accentuation of the hydrological discharge regime. Corresponding patterns have been found for the time intervals between 8 and 7 ka, 5 and 3.8 ka, 2.2 and 1.5 ka, as well as around 1 ka and 0.4 ka cal. BP. The supra-regional effectiveness of the factor climate is contrasted by a strong regional individuality of the river catchments that is expressed by further, regionally limited phases of fluvial activity. Crucial to this development – apart from regional climate differences – are, inter alia, tectonic movements as evidenced for the Jarama River system in central Spain, or late Pleistocene and Holocene sea-level fluctuations that primarily affected fluvial dynamics along the lower course of the Guadalete River in southwestern Spain. Furthermore, it can be shown that variations in time and duration of fluvial system response are attributable to differing buffer capacities of river catchments towards external influences. The increase of human impact during the late Holocene apparently provoked a reinforcement of the effects of climatic impulses. There are clear evidences for the participation of humans in the mobilization of sediments; however, concerning the degree of influence it is hardly possible to differentiate between the factors humans and climate.:1 Introduction 1.1 Relevance of fluvial records in the context of climate change and landscape evolution in the Western Mediterranean 1.2 Environmental significance of fluvial deposits 1.3 Objectives and methodological approach 2 Late Quaternary fluvial dynamics of the Jarama River 2.1 Introduction 2.2 Study area 2.2.1 Geological and tectonic background 2.2.2 Geomorphological setting of the Jarama valley 2.3 Methods 2.4 Fluvial architecture and characteristics of the sedimentary units 2.4.1 Sequence 1 – Late Pleistocene 2.4.2 Sequence 2 – Early to Mid-Holocene 2.4.3 Sequence 3 – Mid-Holocene to Roman period 2.4.4 Sequence 4 – Little Ice Age 2.5 Interpretation - Stages of floodplain development 2.5.1 Extensive aggradations during Marine Isotope Stage (MIS) 3 2.5.2 Increased fluvial activity in the course of the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM) 2.5.3 Sand deposits (Unit 3) at the end of MIS 2 2.5.4 Younger Dryas and Early to Mid-Holocene sedimentation 2.5.5 Mid-Holocene warm period and climatic collapse 2.5.6 Highly dynamic floodplain aggradations and 3.0 ka-aridity crisis 2.5.7 Extensive sand deposition at 2.8 ka BP and following floodplain stability 2.5.8 Flood loam accumulation during the Roman epoch 2.5.9 Alternating flood loam accumulation and soil formation during the Medieval period 2.5.10 Accentuated fluvial dynamics during the Little Ice Age and recent flooding 2.6 Human influence versus climatic control factors 2.7 Significance of fluvial records in a spatial context 2.8 Conclusion 3 Late Pleistocene and Holocene fluvial dynamics of the lower Guadalete River 3.1 Introduction 3.2 Study area 3.3 Methods 3.4 Stratigraphic findings and sedimentation patterns within the Guadalete valley 3.4.1 Upper downstream section 3.4.1.1 Late Pleistocene sediments 3.4.1.2 Mid-Holocene sediments (5000 - 2000 cal. a BP) 3.4.1.3 Late Holocene sediments (<2000 cal. a BP) 3.4.1.4 Composite profile 3.4.2 Lower downstream section close to the estuary 3.4.2.1 Early Holocene sediments (~10000 - 8000 cal. a BP) 3.4.2.2 Mid- to late-Holocene sediments (<8000 cal. a BP) 3.5 Interpretation – Floodplain evolution and the influencing factors 3.5.1 Stages of floodplain evolution 3.5.1.1 Late Pleistocene dynamics (SU-1 to SU-3) 3.5.1.2 Early Holocene dynamics (SU-4 to SU-7) 3.5.1.3 Mid-Holocene dynamics (SU-8) 3.5.1.4 Mid-Holocene aridity collapse (SU-9a to SU-9c) 3.5.1.5 Late Holocene dynamics (SU-10 to SU-12) 3.5.1.6 Increased dynamics during the Little Ice Age (LIA) (SU-13a to SU-14) 3.6 Conclusion 4 Western Mediterranean environmental changes 4.1 Introduction 4.2 Study area 4.2.1 Jarama River 4.2.2 Guadalete River 4.2.3 Guadalquivir River 4.3 Methods 4.4 Results 4.4.1 Stratigraphic findings of the Jarama River 4.4.1.1 Fluvial architecture 4.4.1.2 Sedimentation patterns 4.4.1.3 Periods of soil formation 4.4.2 Stratigraphic findings of the Guadalete River 4.4.2.1 Fluvial architecture 4.4.2.2 Sedimentation patterns 4.4.2.3 Periods of soil formation 4.4.3 Stratigraphic findings of the Guadalquivir River 4.4.3.1 Fluvial architecture 4.4.3.2 Sedimentation patterns 4.4.3.3 Periods of soil formation 4.5 Discussion 4.5.1 General view of fluvial architectural patterns as basis for interpretations 4.5.2 Fluvial dynamic patterns and possible forcing mechanisms 4.5.3 The role of climate in triggering fluvial dynamics 4.5.4 Supra regional comparison of examined floodplain records 4.5.5 Variability of fluvial dynamics: A matter of sensitivity? 4.5.6 Large-scale consideration of Western Mediterranean fluvial records 4.5.7 Interrelations between North Atlantic sea surface temperature and landscape dynamics on the Iberian Peninsula 4.5.8 Landscape dynamics and corresponding atmospheric conditions 4.6 Conclusion Acknowledgements References 5 Synthesis 5.1 General architectural patterns of examined river floodplains in Spain 5.2 Assessment of influencing factors and their relevance for fluvial dynamics 5.3 Interpretations in terms of palaeo-environmental conditions 5.4 Comparative consideration of the various study areas 5.5 Climate change and implications for fluvial system behavior 5.6 Outlook References / Der westliche Mediterranraum gilt als landschaftlich und klimatisch hochsensible Region, für deren semiaride bis semihumide Gebiete bereits kleinere klimatische Änderungen, aber auch Eingriffe des Menschen, mit weitreichenden Folgen für Umwelt und ökologische Systeme verbunden sein können. Forschungen zum Landschaftswandel nehmen hier vor allem vor dem Hintergrund des derzeitigen Klimawandels einen hohen Stellenwert in den Geowissenschaften ein. Ein wichtiges Anliegen ist dabei, in früheren Landschaftswandeln Muster zu entdecken, welche als Grundlage für Bewertungen zukünftiger Veränderungen dienen können. Für die Rekonstruktion spätquartärer Umweltbedingungen kommt fluvialen Sedimenten eine besondere Rolle zu. Wie kein anderes Archiv spiegeln fluviale Sedimentabfolgen Landschaftszustände und -entwicklung auf regionaler Ebene wieder. Dies ist dem Umstand geschuldet, dass fluviale Dynamik mit allen inbegriffenen Prozessen auf polykausalen Zusammenhängen beruht und somit eine Vielzahl an Faktoren, wie klimatische Verhältnisse und Vegetationsentwicklung, menschliche Einflussnahme oder tektonische Aktivität Ausdruck in fluvialer Dynamik finden. Von feuchten atlantischen Luftmassen geprägte Gebiete nehmen etwa 70 % der Fläche der Iberischen Halbinsel ein, allerdings besteht hier eine erhebliche Forschungslücke im Bereich der Analyse fluvialer Archive. Diesem Umstand soll in vorliegender Dissertation in Form einer systematischen Aufarbeitung der fluvialen Sedimentabfolgen zweier Flusssysteme in Zentralspanien (Rio Jarama), sowie in SW-Spanien (Rio Guadalete) Rechnung getragen werden. Für ergänzende Betrachtungen werden dabei erste Befunde zur stratigraphischen Gliederung des Guadalquivir-Mittellaufes in S-Spanien herangezogen. Ziel der Arbeiten ist es zunächst über umfangreiche Aufnahmen und Dokumentationen von Sedimentprofilen ein belastbares Standardprofil für jedes Flusssystem zu erarbeiten und dieses hinsichtlich der Aussagekraft in Bezug auf Paläoumweltbedingungen und vor allem -wandeln zu prüfen. Neben der möglichen Reaktion fluvialer Systeme auf klimatische Änderungen, stehen dabei vor allem auch Beziehungsgeflechte zu anderen Einflussfaktoren im Vordergrund. Anhand eines überregionalen Vergleichs soll eine mögliche Kopplung fluvialmorphologischer Systeme an großräumige Klimafluktuationen untersucht werden, zudem soll weiteren Themenkomplexen, wie der Konnektivität verschiedener Systeme oder unterschiedlichen Reaktionszeiten und -geschwindigkeiten nachgegangen werden. Grundlage für diese Betrachtungen bilden dabei aus zahlreichen Geländeaufnahmen resultierende Profilaufnahmen, sowie Ergebnisse geoelektrischer Messungen und Bohrsondierungen. Stratigraphische Arbeiten belaufen sich zunächst auf die Untergliederung verschiedener Sedimenteinheiten, die Ausweisung von Bodenhorizonten, sowie die Korrelation einzelner Schichten und Horizonte über unterschiedliche Profile hinweg anhand charakteristischer sedimentologischer und pedogenetischer Merkmale. Nachfolgende bodenchemische und sedimentologische Laboruntersuchungen an ausgewählten Profilen sollen über die Bestimmung von Korngrößenverhältnissen, Gehalten an organischem Kohlenstoff, Kalk- und Eisengehalten, sowie der magnetischen Suszeptibilität die Geländebefunde stützen und in unklaren Fällen eine Unterscheidung von Böden und Bodensedimenten erleichtern. Die zeitliche Auflösung der Sedimentabfolgen soll über Radiokarbondatierungen realisiert werden, mit dem letztendlichen Ziel, eine detaillierte fluviale Sedimentationsgeschichte für das Spätquartär zu erarbeiten. In einem weiteren Schritt werden begleitend zu einer detaillierten Einzugsgebietscharakteristik die chronostratigraphischen Befunde einem intensiven Vergleich mit in der Literatur verfügbaren Studien an Sekundärarchiven zugeführt, um Beziehungsgeflechte zwischen fluvialer Dynamik und verschiedenen Einflussfaktoren aufzudecken. Im Rahmen dieser Dissertation konnten zunächst 36 Profilaufschlüsse detailliert bearbeitet und zudem 13 Rammkernsondierungen in Flussauenpositionen abgeteuft werden. Für den chronologischen Rahmen wurden 70 Radiokohlenstoffproben datiert. Die Ergebnisse zeigen ein deutliches Muster von Sedimentationsphasen und Zeiten der Stabilität mit einhergehender Bodenbildung für jedes Flusseinzugsgebiet. Dabei konnte die Sedimentationsgeschichte der Flusssysteme Rio Guadalete und Rio Guadalquivir für die letzten 15.000 Jahre und des Rio Jarama für die letzten 43 ka rekonstruiert werden. Dank der Fülle an verfügbaren Studien an terrestrischen Vergleichsarchiven mit klima- und umweltrelevantem Bezug war es möglich, den Einfluss der unterschiedlichen Parameter Klima, Vegetation, Mensch und Tektonik, bzw. Erosionsbasis auf die fluviale Sedimentationsdynamik zu prüfen. So zeigte sich, dass vor allem rasche Klimaänderungen in der Lage waren die Mobilisierung von Sedimenten im Einzugsgebiet und deren Ablagerung in den Flussauen zu initiieren. Dahingegen bewirkten anhaltende klimatische Gunstphasen eine Stabilisierung mit einhergehender Bodenbildung, wie für die Zeiträume zwischen 13.3 und 12.7 ka, 7 und 5.1 ka, 2.8 und 2.3 ka, 1.4 und 1.2 ka, sowie 0.8 und 0.5 ka cal. BP für sämtliche Flusssysteme zu verzeichnen ist. Perioden verstärkter Sedimentation folgten in der Regel Phasen klimatischer Aridifizierung, welche über eine Schwächung der Vegetationsbedeckung und Akzentuierung des hydrologischen Abflussregimes in der Lage waren auf das fluviale System Einfluss zu nehmen. Entsprechende Muster konnten für die Zeiträume zwischen 8 und 7 ka, 5 und 3.8 ka, 2.2 und 1.5 ka, sowie um 1 ka als auch 0.4 ka cal. BP dokumentiert werden. Dem überregional wirksamen Einfluss des Faktors Klima steht jedoch eine starke landschaftsgeschichtliche Individualität der verschiedenen Regionen gegenüber, welche in weiteren, regional begrenzten Phasen fluvialer Aktivität zum Ausdruck kommt. Ausschlaggebend sind hier neben der Ausbildung regionaler Klimaunterschiede unter Anderem tektonische Verstellungen, welche für das in Zentralspanien gelegene System des Rio Jarama belegt werden konnten, oder spätpleistozäne und holozäne Meeresspiegelschwankungen, welche sich vor allem auf die fluviale Dynamik im Unterlauf des in SW-Spanien gelegenen Rio Guadalete auswirkten. Desweiteren können Unterschiede in Reaktionsdauer und -geschwindigkeit fluvialer Systeme mit variierendem Puffervermögen der Flusseinzugsgebiete gegenüber äußeren Einflüssen erklärt werden. Das intensivierte Wirken des Menschen im Spätholozän führte allem Anschein nach zu einer Verstärkung der Wirkung klimatischer Impulse, wobei sich klare Evidenzen für eine Beteiligung des Menschen an der Sedimentmobilisierung erkennen lassen, der Umfang des Einflusses des Menschen aber in der Regel nicht klar von dem des Klimas zu trennen ist.:1 Introduction 1.1 Relevance of fluvial records in the context of climate change and landscape evolution in the Western Mediterranean 1.2 Environmental significance of fluvial deposits 1.3 Objectives and methodological approach 2 Late Quaternary fluvial dynamics of the Jarama River 2.1 Introduction 2.2 Study area 2.2.1 Geological and tectonic background 2.2.2 Geomorphological setting of the Jarama valley 2.3 Methods 2.4 Fluvial architecture and characteristics of the sedimentary units 2.4.1 Sequence 1 – Late Pleistocene 2.4.2 Sequence 2 – Early to Mid-Holocene 2.4.3 Sequence 3 – Mid-Holocene to Roman period 2.4.4 Sequence 4 – Little Ice Age 2.5 Interpretation - Stages of floodplain development 2.5.1 Extensive aggradations during Marine Isotope Stage (MIS) 3 2.5.2 Increased fluvial activity in the course of the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM) 2.5.3 Sand deposits (Unit 3) at the end of MIS 2 2.5.4 Younger Dryas and Early to Mid-Holocene sedimentation 2.5.5 Mid-Holocene warm period and climatic collapse 2.5.6 Highly dynamic floodplain aggradations and 3.0 ka-aridity crisis 2.5.7 Extensive sand deposition at 2.8 ka BP and following floodplain stability 2.5.8 Flood loam accumulation during the Roman epoch 2.5.9 Alternating flood loam accumulation and soil formation during the Medieval period 2.5.10 Accentuated fluvial dynamics during the Little Ice Age and recent flooding 2.6 Human influence versus climatic control factors 2.7 Significance of fluvial records in a spatial context 2.8 Conclusion 3 Late Pleistocene and Holocene fluvial dynamics of the lower Guadalete River 3.1 Introduction 3.2 Study area 3.3 Methods 3.4 Stratigraphic findings and sedimentation patterns within the Guadalete valley 3.4.1 Upper downstream section 3.4.1.1 Late Pleistocene sediments 3.4.1.2 Mid-Holocene sediments (5000 - 2000 cal. a BP) 3.4.1.3 Late Holocene sediments (<2000 cal. a BP) 3.4.1.4 Composite profile 3.4.2 Lower downstream section close to the estuary 3.4.2.1 Early Holocene sediments (~10000 - 8000 cal. a BP) 3.4.2.2 Mid- to late-Holocene sediments (<8000 cal. a BP) 3.5 Interpretation – Floodplain evolution and the influencing factors 3.5.1 Stages of floodplain evolution 3.5.1.1 Late Pleistocene dynamics (SU-1 to SU-3) 3.5.1.2 Early Holocene dynamics (SU-4 to SU-7) 3.5.1.3 Mid-Holocene dynamics (SU-8) 3.5.1.4 Mid-Holocene aridity collapse (SU-9a to SU-9c) 3.5.1.5 Late Holocene dynamics (SU-10 to SU-12) 3.5.1.6 Increased dynamics during the Little Ice Age (LIA) (SU-13a to SU-14) 3.6 Conclusion 4 Western Mediterranean environmental changes 4.1 Introduction 4.2 Study area 4.2.1 Jarama River 4.2.2 Guadalete River 4.2.3 Guadalquivir River 4.3 Methods 4.4 Results 4.4.1 Stratigraphic findings of the Jarama River 4.4.1.1 Fluvial architecture 4.4.1.2 Sedimentation patterns 4.4.1.3 Periods of soil formation 4.4.2 Stratigraphic findings of the Guadalete River 4.4.2.1 Fluvial architecture 4.4.2.2 Sedimentation patterns 4.4.2.3 Periods of soil formation 4.4.3 Stratigraphic findings of the Guadalquivir River 4.4.3.1 Fluvial architecture 4.4.3.2 Sedimentation patterns 4.4.3.3 Periods of soil formation 4.5 Discussion 4.5.1 General view of fluvial architectural patterns as basis for interpretations 4.5.2 Fluvial dynamic patterns and possible forcing mechanisms 4.5.3 The role of climate in triggering fluvial dynamics 4.5.4 Supra regional comparison of examined floodplain records 4.5.5 Variability of fluvial dynamics: A matter of sensitivity? 4.5.6 Large-scale consideration of Western Mediterranean fluvial records 4.5.7 Interrelations between North Atlantic sea surface temperature and landscape dynamics on the Iberian Peninsula 4.5.8 Landscape dynamics and corresponding atmospheric conditions 4.6 Conclusion Acknowledgements References 5 Synthesis 5.1 General architectural patterns of examined river floodplains in Spain 5.2 Assessment of influencing factors and their relevance for fluvial dynamics 5.3 Interpretations in terms of palaeo-environmental conditions 5.4 Comparative consideration of the various study areas 5.5 Climate change and implications for fluvial system behavior 5.6 Outlook References

The Sulaiy Formation, which is the oldest unit in the Lower Cretaceous succession, is conformably overlain by the Yamama Formation and it is a challenge to identify the precise age of the two formations using foraminifera and other microfossil assemblages. In the eastern side of Saudi Arabia, the Sulaiy Formation and the base of Yamama Formation are poorly studied. The main objectives of this study is to enhance the understanding of the Sulaiy Formation sequence stratigraphical correlation, regional lateral variations and palaeoenvironmental investigation. Lithological and semi-quantitative micropalaeontological analysis of 1277 thin sections taken from core samples from nine cored wells providing a geographically representative distribution from the Saudi Arabian Gulf. These cores intersected the base of the Yamama Formation and the Sulaiy Formation in the total thickness of cored wells of 843.23 meters (2766.5 feet). On the evidence provided by the foraminifera, the Sulaiy Formation is considered to represent the Berriasian to the lowermost Valanginian. The investigation of the micropalaeontology has provided considerable insights into the biocomponents of Sulaiy and the base of Yamama formations in order to identify their biofacies. These microfossils include rotalid foraminifera, miliolid foraminifera, agglutinated foraminifera, calcareous algae, calcispheres, stromatoporoids, sponge spicules, problematica (e.g. Lithocodium aggregatum), molluscs, corals, echinoderms and ostracods. Systematics of planktic and benthic foraminifera is accomplished using the foraminiferal classification by Loeblich and Tappan (1988) as the main source. The assemblage contains foraminifera that recorded for the first time in the Sulaiy Formation. Other microfossils were identified and recorded to help in the identification of the sedimentary environments. The investigation of the micropalaeontology and the lithofacies analysis have provided evidence the identification of the various lithofacies. About twenty four microfacies were identified on the basis of their bio−component and non-skeletal grains. The lithofacies and the bio−component results have provided the evidence of the sedimentary palaeoenvironmental model namely the Arabian Rimmed Carbonate Platform. This palaeoenvironmental depositional model is characterised by two different platform regimes. They are the Platform Interior and the Platform Exterior each of which have unique sedimentary lithofacies zones that produce different types of lithofacies. Each lithofacies is characterised by special depositional conditions and palaeobathymetry that interact with sea level changes and the accommodation space. The important palaeoenvironments are intertidal, restricted lagoon (subtidal), open marine, deeper open marine, inner shoal, shoal and platform margin. Generating, and testing, a depositional model as a part of formulating a sequence stratigraphical interpretation of a region is a key to understanding its geological development and – ultimately – reservoir potential. The micropalaeontology and sedimentology of the Sulaiy Formation in the subsurface have indicated a succession of clearly defined shallowing−upwards depositional cycles. These typically commence with a deep marine biofacies with wackestones and packstones, capped with a mudstone-wackestone maximum flooding zone and an upper unit of packstone to grainstones containing shallow marine biofacies. The upper part of the Sulaiy Formation is highstand-dominated with common grainstones that host the Lower Ratawi reservoir which is capped by karst that defines the sequence boundary. This karst is identified by its abundant moldic porosity that enhanced the the reservoir quality by increasing its porosities into greater values. Integration of the sedimentology and micropalaeontology has yielded a succession of shoaling−upwards depositional cycles, considered to be 4th order sequences, that are superimposed on a large scale 3rd order system tract shallowing−upwards, highstand-associated sequence of the Sulaiy Formation. The Lower Ratawi Reservoir is located within the latest high-stand portion of a third-order Sulaiy Formation sequence. The reservoir consists of a succession of several sequences, each of which is sub-divided into a lower transgressive systems tract separated from the upper highstand systems tract by a maximum flooding surface (MFS/Z). The last of these depositional cycles terminates in beds of porous and permeable ooid, or ooidal-peloidal, grainstone. The reservoir is sealed by the finer-grained sediments of the Yamama Formation.