Geomorphology of the northern sector of the Alfambra- Teruel depression (Iberian Ranges, NE Spain)

The area of Alfambra (NE Spain) is very representative of the relief evolution of the Eastern Iberian ranges. It contains the main geomorphological elements that illustrate this evolutionary process. The geomorphological cartography includes the northern sector of the Alfambra-Teruel Neogene depression and its mountainous surroundings. The cartographic process started by using aerial photographs (1:30000 scale) and fieldwork. Later, the document was projected to the UTM Zone 30 system with ETRS_1989 Datum introduced to ArcGIS 10.1. The legend follows a chronological order. The structural reliefs, erosion surfaces, karst landforms, Quaternary pediments and terraces, and fluvial network are represented over a lithological background. The main cartography is complemented with two maps of lithological and geomorphological units. The obtained information enabled the main geological and geomorphological stages of the regional relief to be established.Fil: Sánchez Fabre, Miguel. Universidad de Zaragoza. Facultad de Filosofía y Letras; EspañaFil: Peña Monné, José Luis. Universidad de Zaragoza. Facultad de Filosofía y Letras; EspañaFil: Sampietro Vattuone, Maria Marta. Universidad Nacional de Tucumán. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales e Instituto Miguel Lillo. Laboratorio de Geoarqueología; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Tucumán; Argentin

Geomorphology of Tafi valley (Tucumán Province, Northwest Argentina)

Tafí valley is an elongated tectonic basin of about 450 km2 located in NW Argentina in a mountainous frame of metamorphic and granitic Precambrian-Paleozoic rocks belonging to Sierras Pampeanas. This study presents the first detailed geomorphological map of the area. The most representative landforms date to the Lateglacial-Holocene, with four differentiating aggradative units separated by incision phases. Among these phases, it is possible to identify the units H1 (Lateglacial-Early and Middle Holocene) and H2 (Upper Holocene until ca. 600 cal BP). These units are composed of slopes, fluvial terraces, and alluvial fans, forming a coupled system. In some areas, this system is complemented with fluvioglacial and glacial landforms. More recent units (H3 and H4), together with active processes, contribute to the great variety of morphologies represented in the area

Geomorphological dynamics and human interactions in a semiarid valley in Northwestern Argentina: The Cafayate depression (Salta Province)

The aim of this study was to record the changes in the Cafayate region, Northwestern Argentina, over the last 50 years (1969–2019), with a focus on fluvial and dune systems, together with human activity. The multi-temporal analysis of different kinds of remote sensor images and field surveys allowed us to establish that the final section of the Santa María River shows a meandering channel whose arrangement and morphology have substantially changed since 1969. The Santa María River has moved from a northern position in 1969 to the current location, giving rise to a shortening in the channel length from 11756 m to 8217 m, increasing its gradient from 0.10% (1969) to 0.14% (2019), with its sinuosity index falling from 2.85 to 2, although the lateral erosion of the channel and the meanders have remained very active. The floodplain supplies sands to feed the aeolian dynamics through a close cycle that favors the development of large dune fields, especially in the river stretches where there is transversal wind direction. Moreover, the changes in land use have negatively impacted on the fluvio-aeolian dynamics of the system

Geomorphological response to the Lateglacial-Holocene palaeoenvironmental changes in the NE piedmont of the Sierra de Aconquija (Tafí Valley, NW Argentina)

Fluvial basins located on the NE side of the Sierra de Aconquija and facing the Tafí valley (NW Argentina) enable a study of the sedimentary records of valleys and alluvial fans that have been subject to glacial and periglacial dynamics since the Fini-Pleistocene to Upper Holocene. i) The oldest morphosedimentary unit (H1A) encompasses the Late Glacial and Early Holocene. A relationship was established linking fluvioglacial terraces to records from El Rincón profile (Younger Dryas) belonging to the most important glacial phase (G1) in the cirques found in the NE of Aconquija; ii) similarly, there is a G2 glacial phase (Neoglacial) that could be connected with the H1B records of the Muñoz River and dated to Early-Middle Holocene; iii) the final units (H2 and H3 from Upper Holocene) form a stepped terrace in the valleys and were interpreted as corresponding to the rock glacier phases from the high mountains and highlighting those that were active during the LIA

Geomorphological evolution of the western piedmont of Cumbres Calchaquíes (Tucumán Province, NW Argentina)

The aim of this paper is to present a detailed geomorphological map of the western piedmont of Cumbres Calchaquíes (Tucumán Province, NW Argentina) bounded by the Amaicha River to the south and the administrative border with Salta Province to the north. It contains information about geomorphological units, their relative ages, and morphogenetic processes. The main map shows the presence of seven aggradation stages separated by incision phases. The first three stages (St1, St2, and St3) were modeled on a thick accumulation located in the upper piedmont from the Late Pliocene and Early Pleistocene. Intermediate stages (St4 and St5) are alluvial fans and pediments with less thickness and gradient. They cover the Early Pleistocene (St4) and the Late Pleistocene-Middle Holocene (St5). Finally, stages St6 and St7 are from the Upper Holocene

Geoarqueología aplicada a la reconstrucción paleoambiental: La evolución del holoceno superior en el NE de España

Los trabajos geoarqueológicos realizados en el NE de España se han centrado en el estudio de registros sedimentarios holocenos relacionados con áreas de ocupación que abarcan desde el Neolítico hasta ÉpocaMedieval y la Pequeña Edad del Hielo. El dinamismo de los procesos geomorfológicos en estos ambientessemiáridos permite obtener respuestas rápidas e identificables en forma de registros sedimentarios comoconsecuencia de pequeños cambios en la estabilidad de las laderas y en el funcionamiento de los sistemasfluviales. En este trabajo se sintetiza la información aportada por el análisis de laderas, abrigos rocosos, fondos de valle y conos aluviales. Se ha obtenido una sucesión de etapas evolutivas en cada uno de estosambientes a partir de los cuales se intenta discriminar su génesis en relación con las fluctuaciones climáticasdel Holoceno y con la intervención humana sobre el territorio. Los resultados de estos trabajos son de graninterés aplicado para la prospección arqueológica, para el conocimiento del poblamiento en épocas pasadasy para la reconstrucción paleoambiental en el NE de España, donde la fuerte erosión ha dificultado la conservación de numerosos yacimientos. Geoarchaeological research carried out in NE Spain have focused on the study of Holocene geoarchaeological records linked with settlement areas from Neolithic to Middle Age and Little Ice Age. The dynamic of geomorphological processes, characteristic of these drylands, allow us to obtain fast and identifiable answers in the way of sedimentary records. These records are the consequence of slight changes in the slope stability and the operation of river systems. In this paper we present a synthesis of the information provided by slopes, rock shelters, valley bottoms, and alluvial fans. A succession of evolutionary stages was obtained on each environment identifying its origin according to Holocene climate fluctuations and human intervention over territory. The results of this research are of great interest when applied to archaeological prospection, the knowledge of past settlements, and the paleo-environmental reconstruction of NE Spain, where the strong erosion complicates the conservation of many archeological sites

Application of drons in various archaeological contexts and in cases of geo-archaeological reconstruction

La popularización del uso de los Vehículos Aéreos no Tripulados (VANT), o drones, está influyendo enormemente a la disciplina arqueológica. La incorporación de esta técnica con los procesamientos pertinentes permite una aproximación de gran detalle al conocimiento de los sitios arqueológicos. El objetivo de este trabajo es presentar seis casos distintos de aplicación en estudios realizados en Argentina y España que demuestran que esta técnica permite abordar problemas arqueológicos y geoarqueológicos complejos. El control de las escalas de trabajo, que pueden alcanzar gran detalle, facilita labores como el control patrimonial y el seguimiento multitemporal de los sitios arqueológicos, de gran importancia para conocer sus problemas de deterioro. Finalmente, se ofrece como una técnica valiosa para la sincronización de las plantas de excavación, aún en el caso de sitios con múltiples ocupaciones o intervenciones espaciadas temporalmente.The popularization of Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV), also known as drones, are deeply influencing the archaeological research. The incorporation of this technique, with the adequate processing, allows a high detail approach to the archaeological site knowledge. The aim of this paper is to present different study cases from Argentina and Spain that show how the technique allows focusing complex archaeological and geoarchaeological problems. The control of the scales, that could reach high detail, facilitates activities such as archaeological heritage control, and multitemporal analysis of the site evolution, both subjects of high importance to know archaeological decay. Finally, it is a valuable technique for the synchronization of excavation layers in archaeological sites with multiple occupations, or interventions made in different field works.Fil: Sampietro Vattuone, Maria Marta. Universidad Nacional de Tucumán. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales e Instituto Miguel Lillo. Laboratorio de Geoarqueología; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Tucumán; ArgentinaFil: Peña Monné, José Luis. Universidad de Zaragoza. Facultad de Filosofía y Letras; Españ

Geoarchaeological evidence of landscape degradation in the Valley of the Muses (Boeotia, Greece) during classical antiquity

At the foot of Mount Helicon, in Boeotia, Central Greece, is located the Valley of the Muses, traversed by the Askris River. The valley was known in the Antiquity as the location of the Sanctuary of the Muses, where every four years festivals (Mouseia) were held in honor of the muses. It was also the place of birth of the poet Hesiod. Therefore, even today it retains a special mythical appeal. At that time, the humidity provided by the mountain massif surrounding the valley should have helped to create an ideal landscape to stimulate poetic inspiration and literary and musical creativity. In the words of Pausanias ‘Helikon is one of the mountains of Greece with the most fertile soil and the greatest number of cultivated trees. The wild-strawberry bushes supply to the goats sweeter fruit than that growing anywhere else’. He also spoke of the existence of a ‘holly forest’ in the area of the Sanctuary. It is difficult to recognize this special environment at present at the head of the valley and on Mount Helicon, where the Muses Sanctuary was located and to imagine the magnetism of the area as a meeting point for such a particular artistic activity. This is because the imprint left by the complex process of subsequent human occupation of the area generated profound changes in the landscape of the valley, also extensive to nearby areas. Besides, only a few remains of the theater and the Sanctuary of the Muses as well as such ancient settlements of the surroundings, as Askra and Thespies, are lying under present crops or scrub. Much archaeological and geoarchaeological information about these historic sites and landscapes however has been recovered since 1978 due to the Boeotia Project directed by John Bintliff and Anthony Snodgrass.Fil: Peña Monné, Jose Luis. Universidad de Zaragoza. Facultad de Filosofía y Letras; EspañaFil: Sampietro Vattuone, Maria Marta. Universidad Nacional de Tucumán. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales e Instituto Miguel Lillo. Laboratorio de Geoarqueología; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentin

Geoarchaeological evidence of landscape degradation in the Valley of the Muses (Boeotia, Greece) during classical antiquity

At the foot of Mount Helicon, in Boeotia, Central Greece, is located the Valley of the Muses, traversed by the Askris River. The valley was known in the Antiquity as the location of the Sanctuary of the Muses, where every four years festivals (Mouseia) were held in honor of the muses. It was also the place of birth of the poet Hesiod. Therefore, even today it retains a special mythical appeal. At that time, the humidity provided by the mountain massif surrounding the valley should have helped to create an ideal landscape to stimulate poetic inspiration and literary and musical creativity. In the words of Pausanias ‘Helikon is one of the mountains of Greece with the most fertile soil and the greatest number of cultivated trees. The wild-strawberry bushes supply to the goats sweeter fruit than that growing anywhere else’. He also spoke of the existence of a ‘holly forest’ in the area of the Sanctuary. It is difficult to recognize this special environment at present at the head of the valley and on Mount Helicon, where the Muses Sanctuary was located and to imagine the magnetism of the area as a meeting point for such a particular artistic activity. This is because the imprint left by the complex process of subsequent human occupation of the area generated profound changes in the landscape of the valley, also extensive to nearby areas. Besides, only a few remains of the theater and the Sanctuary of the Muses as well as such ancient settlements of the surroundings, as Askra and Thespies, are lying under present crops or scrub. Much archaeological and geoarchaeological information about these historic sites and landscapes however has been recovered since 1978 due to the Boeotia Project directed by John Bintliff and Anthony Snodgrass.Fil: Peña Monné, Jose Luis. Universidad de Zaragoza. Facultad de Filosofía y Letras; EspañaFil: Sampietro Vattuone, Maria Marta. Universidad Nacional de Tucumán. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales e Instituto Miguel Lillo. Laboratorio de Geoarqueología; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentin

La evolución paleogeográfica de los Llanos Leridanos (Sector oriental de la Depresión del Ebro) durante el Cuaternario

A major erosive depression characterized by its general planitude (Pla de Lleida, Plá d'Urgell) has been individualized in the eastern sector of the Ebro Basin. There, as a consequence of pronounced alternating dynamic phases, a system of nine quaternary terrace fligths may be recognized, as well as important changes in the palaeogeographic pattern of the Plád'Urgell and Noguera-Ribagorzana areasEn el sector oriental de la Depresión del Ebro se ha individualizado una gran depresión erosiva, caracterizada por la planitud general (Plá de Lleida, Plá d'Urgell) en donde se reconoce un sistema escalonado de 9 terrazas cuaternarias, como consecuencia de la alternancia de fases dinámicas contrastadas, asi como cambios importantes en su dispositivo paleogeogr&fico, especialmente en el Plá d'Urgell y en el Noguera Ribagorzana