Lower Mediterranean plain accelerated evolution during the Little Ice Age: Geoarchaeological insight in the Tech basin (Roussillon, Gulf of Lion, Western Mediterranean)

Abstract

Article history: Available online xxx a b s t r a c t This paper discusses the evolution of the Tech river lower plain, (western Mediterranean) from the Late Middle Ages, using geomorphological, archaeological and historical data. Geoarchaeological data was obtained from coring and trenching near a buried village and chapel. Radiocarbon and archaeological dating are used to reconstitute sedimentation rates and major flood event chronology. Additional data about channel avulsion are provided by historical data. Increases in sedimentation rate, flooding plain enlargement and repeated avulsion are identified between the last 13th to 15th century AD. This attests to a shift from low water-level regime (LWR) to flood dominated regime (FDR). Climatic or anthropogenic causes of this change are discussed on the basis of regional synthesis. On the western Mediterranean scale, 1250/1350 AD seems to be a wetter phase, associated with the progressive onset of the Early Little Ice Age phase from 1330 to 1450 AD.

Fluvial response to climatic and anthropogenic forcing in the Moselle drainage basin (NE France) during historical periods: evidence from OSL dating

“…In the same way, no deposits related to braided channels have been recognized in the section, despite the Naudin map suggesting the occurrence of an actively braiding system in the first half of the 18th century in this area. This clearly demonstrates that the influence of the Little Ice Age on the morphological evolution of the Moselle valley floor in the Paris Basin was not significant, which is in contrast with the results obtained in many other valleys (Carozza et al, 2011;Gob et al, 2008;Ward et al, 2008). In contrast to climatic impact, the human forcing seems to have played a more considerable role on the fluvial dynamics.…”

“…This clearly demonstrates that the influence of the Little Ice Age on the morphological evolution of the Moselle valley floor in the Paris Basin was not significant, which is in contrast with the results obtained in many other valleys (Carozza et al, 2011;Gob et al, 2008;Ward et al, 2008). At Scarpone, the comparison between the fluvial deposits, the chronological framework, and the modern maps enables the reconstruction of the detailed fluvial evolution in the Dieulouard area since the 18th century.…”

“…In contrast, the second half of the Holocene typically corresponds to the development of interactions between fluvial systems and human activity. These valleys are typically characterized by (1) the predominance of fluvial aggradation and the relative paucity of erosion (Hudson et al, 2008;Zielhofer et al, 2008;Erkens et al, 2011), (2) the preservation of the natural fluvial system (Arnaud-Fassetta et al, 2010), (3) a high morphogenetic activity of the floods (high competence, high velocity for water and sediment transfer, especially during the Little Ice Age Gob et al, 2008;Carozza et al, 2011;Lespez et al, 2011), and/or (4) the preservation of the fluvial palaeomorphologies in the landscape (Dambeck and Thiemeyer, 2002;Salvador et al, 2004;Heyvaert and Baeteman, 2008). during the Little Ice Age; Macklin et al, 2006;Thorndycraft and Benito, 2006;Frechen et al, 2008Frechen et al, , 2010Baartman et al, 2011).…”

Apport de l’approche géoarchéologiqueà l’étude du gisement néolithique du Monte Revincu (Santo Pietro di Tenda, Corse)

“…J.-C. Les études réalisées sur les fleuves du nord de la Méditerranée concernant la transition entre l'Optimum Climatique Médiéval (OCM) et le Petit Âge Glaciaire (PAG) montrent que le début de la mise en place de conditions à fort potentiel hydro-sédimentaire se situe entre 1 350 et 1 450 ap. J.-C. (Carozza et al, 2011 ;Vella et al, 2012) selon les secteurs de la Méditerranée. Certaines des formations grossières identifiées au sein de l'ensemble V sont donc antérieures au PAG et pourraient être reliées à une intensification des activités agropastorales dans la région à la période médiévale (pisane puis génoise).…”

Reconstructing past terrace fields in the Pyrenees: Insights into land management and settlement from the Bronze Age to the Early Modern era at Vilalta (1650 masl, Cerdagne, France)

“…However, the fact that there was a phase of intensive exploitation of the agricultural land, requiring expensive investment, which followed the abandonment of the village and persisted throughout the Little Ice Age, reveals a more complex adaptation of agrarian structures to socio-environmental changes. The establishment of a new drainage system, in the face of an increase in precipitation that has been well proven for the eastern Pyrenees (Carozza et al 2011) is perhaps one aspect of this adaptation. Yet, this must be combined with other kinds of evidence such as the processes revealed in written documents.…”