Unravelling late Quaternary coastal evolution through a multidisciplinary approach: A case study from southwestern Sicily (Italy)

Abstract

We present new lithostratigraphic, micropaleontological, and chronological evidence for the Late Quaternary evolution of the Carboj River mouth along the southwestern Sicilian coastline. Field mapping, micropaleontological analysis, and luminescence dating reveal a narrow, elevated coastal landform, the Maragani relief, capped by a flat surface underlined by marine sands dated to ~77 ka (MIS 5a). This surface, perched at ~55 m a.s.l., overlies the Early Pleistocene Agrigento Formation, assigned to the middle Calabrian, establish-ing a vertical stratigraphy spanning nearly one and half million years.
Unlike the classic stepped terraces typical of the region, the Maragani relief lacks fluvial incision and shows no evidence of marine abrasion. Instead, its geometry, lithology, and tectonic context support interpretation as a relict wave-built mouth bar formed during a sea-level stillstand and later uplifted by regional deformation associated with the Sicilian Fold and Thrust Belt.
This study shows that even single localized coastal features can capture the combined effects of tectonic uplift and sea-level change. By focusing on the Maragani relief, we highlight how site-specific landforms, often overlooked, can offer valuable insight into Qua-ternary landscape evolution along the Mediterranean margins.