Raised marsh deposits near Cartagena de Indias, evidence of eustatic and climatic instability during the upper Holocene

The marsh deposits cropping out near Galerazamba are located at 15 m above sea level and at a distance of 1,250 m from the present day Cienaga El Totumo. This location suggests frequent changes in the sea level. A radiocarbon age of 4,150±50 yr BP was obtained from mollusc remains at the Cienaga El Totumo. The age of the marsh corresponds to a dry climate period according to paleoenvironmental data from the northern part of South America. The Cienaga El Totumo retreated during this dry episode. The fossil biota content found in these raised marsh deposits is poorly diversified and corresponds to the inner part of the marsh.