The Nile Basin: Quaternary Geology, Geomorphology and Prehistoric Environments

Contents
Preface
Acknowledgements
1 The Nile Basin: An Introduction
	1.1 Introduction
	1.2 Early Speculation about the Nile
	1.3 Unique Attributes of the Nile
	1.4 Aims and Structure of This Volume
2 Evolution of the Nile Basin
	2.1 Introduction: How Old Is the Nile?
	2.2 Ethiopian Uplift and Volcanism
	2.3 Erosion of the Ethiopian Nile Headwaters
	2.4 Tectonic History of Lake Victoria and the Ugandan Nile Headwaters
	2.5 Tectonic and Structural Control of the Nile and Its Tributaries
	2.6 Volume of the Nile Cone
	2.7 Conclusion
3 Climate and Hydrology
	3.1 Introduction
	3.2 Climates of the Nile Basin
	3.3 Nile Hydrology and Nile Floods
	3.4 Conclusion
4 Geology and Soils
	4.1 Introduction
	4.2 Geology
	4.3 Soils
	4.4 Conclusion
5 Vegetation, Land Use and Human Impact
	5.1 Introduction
	5.2 Natural Vegetation Zones
	5.3 Current Land Use
	5.4 Human Impact on the Natural Vegetation and Soils
	5.5 Controlling the Floods: Dams, Reservoirs and Disease
	5.6 Conclusion
6 The Ethiopian Highlands
	6.1 Introduction
	6.2 Cenozoic Uplift and Volcanism
	6.3 Cenozoic Erosion: The Blue Nile and Tekezze Gorges
	6.4 Miocene and Pliocene Environments in Ethiopia
	6.5 Quaternary Environments
	6.6 The Late Pleistocene Blue Nile
	6.7 The Early Holocene Blue Nile
	6.8 Conclusion
7 The Ugandan Lake Plateau
	7.1 Introduction
	7.2 Cenozoic Disruption of Drainage
	7.3 Origin of the Ugandan Lakes
	7.4 Late Quaternary Fluctuations of Lakes Victoria and Albert
	7.5 Late Quaternary Fluctuations of Lake Challa
	7.6 The ‘African Humid Period’
	7.7 Kilimanjaro Holocene Ice Core Records
	7.8 Conclusion
8 The Sudd Swamps and the White Nile
	8.1 Introduction
	8.2 The Sudd
	8.3 The White Nile
	8.4 White Nile Islands
	8.5 Prehistoric Occupation of the White Nile Valley
	8.6 Conclusion
9 Lake Turkana and Overflow into the Sobat
	9.1 Introduction
	9.2 Lake Turkana
	9.3 Quaternary Sediments in the Lower Omo Valley
	9.4 Overflow of Lake Turkana into the White Nile
	9.5 Conclusion
10 The Khor Abu Habl Fan and the Desert Dunes of Kordofan and Darfur
	10.1 Introduction
	10.2 The Umm Ruwaba Formation and the Khor Abu Habl Fan
	10.3 Desert Dunes and Their Environmental Significance
	10.4 The Desert Dunes of Kordofan and Darfur
	10.5 Freshwater Mollusca and Holocene Lakes
	10.6 Conclusion
11 The Gezira Alluvial Fan and Blue Nile Palaeochannels
	11.1 Introduction
	11.2 Age and Origin of the Gezira
	11.3 Blue Nile Palaeochannels
	11.4 Source-Bordering Dunes
	11.5 Prehistoric Occupation Sites
	11.6 Conclusion
12 The Atbara
	12.1 Introduction
	12.2 Cold Climate Landforms and Glaciation in the Semien Highlands
	12.3 Denudation Rates in the Tekezze Basin
	12.4 Quaternary Alluvial Formations in the Atbara Valley
	12.5 Holocene Environments
	12.6 Quaternary Fossils and Prehistoric Artefacts
	12.7 Conclusion
13 Jebel Marra Volcano
	13.1 Introduction
	13.2 Geological History of Jebel Marra
	13.3 Flora of Jebel Marra and Its Significance
	13.4 Piedmont Sediments
	13.5 Deriba Crater Lakes and Late Pleistocene High Lake Levels
	13.6 Pleistocene and Holocene Erosion and Sedimentation
	13.7 Conclusion
14 The Desert Nile
	14.1 Introduction
	14.2 Deciphering Nile Alluvial History
	14.3 Pleistocene Erosion and Sedimentation in Southern Egypt
	14.4 Late Quaternary Depositional Environments in Northern Sudan
	14.5 Meta-analysis of the Desert Nile Holocene Fluvial Archive
	14.6 Conclusion
15 West of the Nile: The Western Desert of Egypt and the Eastern Sahara – Part 1
	15.1 Introduction
	15.2 Early Exploration
	15.3 Wadi Howar and Adjacent Areas
	15.4 The Darb el Arba’in Desert: Oyo, El Atrun and Selima Oasis
	15.5 Conclusion
16 West of the Nile: The Western Desert of Egypt and the Eastern Sahara – Part 2
	16.1 Introduction
	16.2 Dakhla and Kharga Oases
	16.3 The Gilf Kebir, Jebel ‘Uweinat, Jebel Arkenu and Environs
	16.4 Bir Sahara, Bir Tarfawi and the Tushka Lakes
	16.5 Saharan Groundwater Recharge during the Quaternary
	16.6 Late Quaternary Environments in the Sahara: Implications and Cautions
	16.7 Conclusion
17 The Fayum
	17.1 Introduction
	17.2 Origin of the Fayum Depression
	17.3 Holocene Lake Fluctuations in the Fayum
	17.4 Epi-Palaeolithic/Mesolithic and Neolithic Settlement in the Fayum
	17.5 Conclusion
18 The Red Sea Hills
	18.1 Introduction
	18.2 Origin and Evolution of the Red Sea Hills
	18.3 Pleistocene Rivers Flowing from the Red Sea Hills
	18.4 Pleistocene and Holocene Spring Tufas and Their Climatic Significance
	18.5 Mesolithic and Neolithic Occupation in the Red Sea Hills
	18.6 A Wetter Climate in the Red Sea Hills 2,000 Years Ago
	18.7 Conclusion
19 The Sinai Peninsula
	19.1 Introduction
	19.2 Origin and Evolution of the Sinai Peninsula
	19.3 Periglacial Landforms in the Sinai Mountains
	19.4 Tufa Deposits in the Sinai Peninsula and Their Climatic Significance
	19.5 Late Pleistocene Valley-Fills of the Sinai Peninsula
	19.6 Desert Dunes of the Sinai Peninsula and Adjacent Northern Negev Desert
	19.7 Prehistoric Occupation in the Sinai Peninsula
	19.8 Conclusion
20 The Nile Delta
	20.1 Introduction
	20.2 Origin and Evolution of the Nile Delta
	20.3 Holocene History of Maryut Lagoon, Western Nile Delta
	20.4 Variations in Nile Delta Sediment Provenance
	20.5 Holocene Fluctuations in Nile Delta Sedimentation
	20.6 Holocene Variations in Nile Delta Subsidence
	20.7 Human Occupation of the Nile Delta
	20.8 Conclusion
21 The Nile Cone
	21.1 Introduction
	21.2 Age and Volume of the Nile Cone
	21.3 Analysis of Marine Sediment Cores from the Nile Cone
	21.4 Nile Floods and Sapropel Formation
	21.5 Conclusion
22 Origins of Plant and Animal Domestication in the Nile Basin
	22.1 Introduction
	22.2 Some General Considerations
	22.3 The Transition from Mesolithic to Neolithic in the Fayum and Main Nile Valley
	22.4 The Transition from Mesolithic to Neolithic in the Eastern Sahara
	22.5 The Transition from Mesolithic to Neolithic in Central and Eastern Sudan
	22.6 The Transition from Mesolithic to Neolithic in Ethiopia and East Africa
	22.8 Conclusion
23 Epilogue: ‘Out of Africa’
	23.1 Introduction
	23.2 Quaternary Environments in North and East Africa
	23.3 Quaternary Environments in Eurasia
	23.4 Movement of Homo erectus/Homo ergaster Out of Africa
	23.5 Movement of Homo sapiens Out of Africa
	23.6 Conclusion
References
Index