Acumulaciones tobáceas holocenas en la Sierra de Alcaraz (Albacete, España)

Résumé

Holocene tufaceous deposits located along ephemeral stream valleys are described. All these ephemeral streams are tributaries of Alcaraz River. The isotopic dating carried out in some interestratified organic levels in the tufaceous layers, suggest that the rising stages have basically developed from 5,2 ky BP. The radiocarbon dated records and pottery found in some stratigraphic sections span much of the last 6 ky. Three main paleoenvironmental stages has been identified: a) From 6.000 to 2.700 BP, pine and oak dominated woodlands and an intense carbonate precipitation along the valleys, with tufa precipitation and erosion episodes, and some moss tufa deposits in the nick points along longitudinal profile; b) From 2.700 to 500 BP, detrital deposits are almost dominants and may be connected with the brushwood clearance and cessation of tufa formation; c) From 500 BP to present day, deposits are remarkably affected by the fluvial erosion and trenching which began in historical times, and may be connected with the increase of extensive agricultural and forestry increasing as well as water power and mill uses.