An obliquity-controlled Early Pleistocene river terrace record from Western Turkey?

Investigation of the Pleistocene sequence of the Gediz River, Western Turkey, has revealed a record of Early Pleistocene river terraces. Eleven terraces spanning the interval from 1.67 to 1.245 million years ago (MIS 59-37) are preserved beneath basaltic lava flows. The high number of terraces over this short time period reflects high-frequency sedimentation/incision cycles preserved due to the fortuitous combination of relatively high uplift rates (∼0.16 mm yr−1) and progressive southwards valley migration. Comparison of this record with ODP967 from the Eastern Mediterranean Basin suggests a link between the production of terraces and obliquity-driven ∼41,000 year climate cycles in the Early Pleistocene.