The Holocene stratified screes from Sierra de Albarracín (Iberian Ranges, Spain) and their paleoenvironmental significance

PEÑA MONNÉ, JOSÉ L; PÉREZ ALBERTI, AUGUSTO; SAMPIETRO VATTUONE, MARÍA M; OTERO, XOSE L; SÁNCHEZ FABRE, MIGUEL; LONGARES ALADRÉN, LUIS A

HOLOCENE (SEVENOAKS)

SAGE PUBLICATIONS LTD

Año: 2017 p. 478 - 491

0959-6836

The most important stratified screes of the Iberian Range are found in Sierra de Albarracín. These slope deposits have been traditionally considered,without absolute datings, as having been formed during various Pleistocene cold phases. The aim of this paper is to establish the sedimentological,morphological, chronological, and paleoenvironmental characteristics of these deposits through the study of four profiles recorded in the Calomardecanyon (El Rollo, El Molino, and Royuela) and Toril. The most representative profile is that of El Rollo as it is formed by basal tufa and stratified screelayers separated by paleosoils. Radiocarbon datings obtained from paleosoil samples show that the sequence ranges between the early and middleHolocene. The profiles from El Molino and Royuela, as well as the upper levels of Toril, complete the sequence showing deposits from upper Holocene(Bronze Age and ?Little Ice Age?). These data show the oscillations during the Holocene between colder phases, represented by the stratified screes, andwarmer?wetter phases with soil development and local tufa deposits. This geomorphological and pedological response to the Holocene climatic variabilityshows its clearest records in the canyons. However, there are almost no Pleistocene accumulations ? with the exception of that of Toril (minimum ageof