Palaeosurfaces: Recognition, Reconstruction And... Apr 2026

Reconstructing these ancient landscapes involves piecing together fragmented geological data to build a coherent model of the past topography:

The study of —ancient landscapes preserved within the rock record—serves as a critical bridge between geology and geomorphology. These surfaces provide a spatial and temporal framework for understanding how tectonic processes and environmental changes have shaped the Earth's face over millions of years. Recognition of Palaeosurfaces Palaeosurfaces: Recognition, Reconstruction and...

: For more recent Holocene surfaces, researchers use coring and electrical resistivity tomography to identify flood-safe locations, such as Pleistocene sand mounds (Geziras), that influenced human settlement patterns. : High-resolution Digital Elevation Models (DEMs) can be

: High-resolution Digital Elevation Models (DEMs) can be constructed by integrating LiDAR data with geological and historical information to map past valley floors and floodplains. : Trace fossils, such as dinosaur tracks on

: The presence of ancient soil profiles is a primary indicator of a subaerially exposed surface. These soils can range from simple exposure surfaces to complex, polyphase profiles that record long-term landscape stability.

: Trace fossils, such as dinosaur tracks on a bedding plane , can confirm the preservation of primary palaeotopography and indicate the biological activity present at the time. Reconstruction Methods