Transition from alluvial to fluvial systems in the Guadalentín Depression (SE Spain) during the Holocene: Lorca Fan versus Guadalentín River

The Lorca alluvial fan (SE Spain) constitutes an excellent example of transition from alluvial to fluvial sedimentary environments in a semiarid region. The fan body represents a large gently-sloping alluvial fan of mainly sandy–silty composition. It is presently dissected throughout its length by the Guadalentín River, which worked as the main fan channel and still operates as a torrential rambla-type channel responsible for historic large flood events. Three different outcrops are analysed at fan-apex, mid-fan and distal-fan locations, taking also into account the different inset terrace levels developed within the main fan trench at + 8–9 m, + 5–6 m, + 3–4 m and + 1–2 m above the present thalweg. Available radiocarbon data and archeological remains collected in fan sediments and inset terraces enable the construction of a preliminary hypothesis about the progressive incision of the fan body from pre-historical to historical times. Proximal fan aggradation took place during the Early Holocene before ~ 7900–7700 cal. yr. BP and continued until the Late Neolithic to Calcolithic Period (~ 5500–4200 cal. yr. BP) when the fan surface stabilised, and channel incision generated a first fanhead trench. Subsequent infilling of the fan trench led to the development of the upper terrace level (+ 8–9 m) which merged with the palustrine environments 23 km downstream of Lorca, feeding distal fan lobes during Late Bronze Age and Post-Roman times. The second terrace level (+ 5–6 m) is a cut & fill episode of about 5 m thickness developed from Roman times, and dated to ~ 1700 to 950 cal. yr. BP. The geometry and altimetry of the upper terrace level, together with the occurrence of different steps in the longitudinal profile of the river at mid to distal fan locations, strongly suggest that the incision of the ancient fan channel was assisted by intersection point headcut development (sensu [Harvey, A.M., 1978. Dissected alluvial fans in southeast Spain. Catena 5, 177–211.]) at proximal-mid fan locations, but by headward erosion exerted by neighbouring drainage basins at distal palustrine environments. Therefore, the Lorca fan exemplifies the behaviour of large-sized fans in its transition from pure alluvial environments to fluvial ones, and its eventual incipient integration into a regional drainage network subject to a dynamic base-level during the historic period.