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This paper reports on a radiocarbon-dated sequence of alluvial terraces from the Teleorman Valley in the southern Romanian Plain and represents the first Late-glacial and well-constrained Holocene alluvial sequence from the lower Danube Valley of southeast Europe. The two earliest and most extensive terraces (T1 and T2) are dissected by large, high-amplitude palaeochannels, which are dated to ca. 12 800 yr BP and are comparable to large meandering palaeochannels identified from other Late glacial contexts across northern and central Europe. The remaining sequence of alluvial deposits show changes in river activity and accelerated sedimentation around 4900-4800 yr BP, 4000-3800 yr BP, 3300-2800 yr BP, 1000 yr BP and within the past 200 yr. A phase of tributary stream alluvial fan deposition is dated to ca. 2400 yr BP. All these periods of alluvial sedimentation correlate well with episodes of climatic cooling, higher rainfall and enhanced river activity, both in terms of incision and greater lateral mobility as well as increased flood frequency and magnitude identified elsewhere in central, western and northern Europe. Human activity appears to have had little effect on this river environment and significant fine-grained sedimentation is not noted until ca. 2400 yr BP, approximately 5000 yr after the first neolithic farmers settled the area. Whether this record of river activity truly reflects the impact of prehistoric societies on this catchment will only be elucidated through further, ongoing detailed archaeological research. © 2004 John Wiley and Sons, Ltd.
Author(s): Howard AJ, Macklin MG, Bailey DW, Mills S, Andreescu R
Publication type: Article
Publication status: Published
Journal: Journal of Quaternary Science
Year: 2004
Volume: 19
Issue: 3
Pages: 271-280
ISSN (print): 0267-8179
ISSN (electronic): 1099-1417
Publisher: John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/jqs.805
DOI: 10.1002/jqs.805
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