Sea-level change and human occupation over 6000 years on Areoso Island (Ría de Arousa, NW Iberian Peninsula)

Abstract Coastal areas are extremely sensitive to variations in environmental conditions. The interaction of marine and continental processes causes a high degree dynamism, generating depositional formations great value for palaeoenvironmental reconstruction. This paper focuses on two pedostratigraphic deposits located under the current beach, close proximity archaeological tumuli Areoso Island (Ría de Arousa, NW Iberian Peninsula). Employing geoarchaeological approach, sea-level rise, conditions human occupation over 6000-year period interpreted. results granulometric mineralogical data, elemental composition stratigraphic features, help identify three successive environments: (rock weathering, soil formation erosion); transition coastal environment; establishment full geomorphological evolution last 6.0 kyr BP has been controlled by climate, rise activity. facies shows evidence low up 4.8 first after 3.2 BP. These an open system improve Holocene curve Peninsula understand context which most important structures island (the tumuli) began be eroded.