Seismic profiles and sedimentological data (bulk fraction) of two sediment cores recovered
from the Djibouti Ville Drift (SW Mediterranean Sea) indicate that bottom currents have played a
fundamental role in shaping the sediment drift. The deposits are composed of biogenous to mixed
muddy and silty contourites. A grain size analysis of the terrigenous fraction together with
mineralogical, magnetic susceptibility, 14C-AMS dating and stable oxygen isotope data have been
analysed to reconstruct glacial and interglacial changes in the bottom currents during the last
133kyr. The sharp vertical grain size changes in the moat and drift indicate that there were
substantial bottom current acceleration and deceleration events with faster flow speeds being
registered in the moat environment. In sediments from glacial periods (MIS2, MIS3, and MIS6) and
stadials 5b and 5d, there is a low carbonate content, high levels of terrigenous elements and
paleocurrent proxy values suggest faster flows with the exception of MIS4. Deposits from the
interglacial period (MIS1) and interstadials 5a, 5c and 5e, have a high carbonate content, low
levels of terrigenous elements, and the paleocurrent proxy values indicate slower flows.Versión del edito
