Holocene landscape dynamics at the tell Arslantepe, Malatya, Turkey – Soil erosion, buried soils and settlement layers, slope and river activity in a middle Euphrates catchment

Research at Arslantepe Mound reveals that soil erosion and landscape degradation in the Euphrates catchment were more intense during Roman times, coinciding with increased fluvial activity. The study identified multiple Holocene erosion phases, some predating known settlement onsets, suggesting early agricultural impacts or climatic influences like the 10.3 and 8.2 kyr climate events. Buried soils, including an early Holocene Terra Rossa-like soil and a Neo-Hittite town layer, were also uncovered, indicating rapid soil formation and societal collapse responses around 5.0 and 2.6 kyr. The analysis of alluvial and colluvial sequences, supported by OSL dating, radiocarbon ages, and artifact evidence, highlights the potential of slope deposits for reconstructing long-term human-induced landscape changes in Anatolia.

Dreibrodt, S., Lubos, C., Lomax, J., Sipos, G., Schroedter, T., & Nelle, O. (2014). Holocene landscape dynamics at the tell Arslantepe, Malatya, Turkey – Soil erosion, buried soils and settlement layers, slope and river activity in a middle Euphrates catchment. The Holocene, 24(10), 1351–1368. https://doi.org/10.1177/0959683614540949