Sedimentary and paleobiological records of the latest Pleistocene-Holocene climate evolution in the Kordofan region, Sudan

The study of the Quaternary sediments of the Kordofan region, Sudan, allowed to decipher the succession of environments in this area, since about 13 kyr. The oldest sediments (>13 to 10.5 kyr BP) are mainly aeolian deposits, except in the southern areas. The “African Humid Period” is recorded by scattered palustrine and lacustrine carbonates dated at 10.5–6.5 kyr BP in the center and North, respectively, by fluvial deposits in the South, and by the pedogenesis of previous deposits in all areas. Fluvial activity may be responsible for the erosion of the previous aeolian sands in the southern areas. Between 6.5 and 3.3 kyr BP, the evolution from aquatic to terrestrial gastropod fauna, and from tropical to arid pollen assemblages points to the shift toward an arid climate. This aridification phase culminated between 3.3 and 1.1 kyr BP, with a period of strong aeolian activity and erosion. Aeolian deposition resumed after 1.1 kyr BP under conditions comparable to those of today. This evolution is consistent with that recorded in Saharan areas, although the period of strong aeolian erosion (≈3.3–1.1 kyr BP) may have been underestimated so far. •Most surficial deposits of Kordofan are latest Pleistocene to Holocene in age.•Most of these deposits are aeolian sands.•The “African Humid Period” is recorded by fluvial, palustrine or lacustrine deposits.•A period of strong aeolian erosion occurred between ≈3 and 1 kyr BP.