Sediment accumulation rates have been calculated for the Llobregat Delta and compared to eustasy,
climate and land use. Radiometric ages show slow (less than 1 mm/yr) sediment accumulations between
12180±60 BP (14565±715 cal BP) and ~4100 BP (4500 cal BP) and faster rates (12 to 25 mm/yr)
younger than ~4100 BP (4500 cal BP). Within this trend of increasing sediment accumulation rates are
two peaks of high sediment accumulation; one occurring during the Visigoth period (VI-VIII century) to
Upper Medieval Age (X-XIV century) and the second during the economic recuperation (XVIII century).
The initial slow sediment accumulation rate is attributed to high rates of accommodation produced by the
rapid Holocene transgression and little sediment supply. Following a slower rate of creation of
accommodation space, sediment started to accumulate at the mouth of the river and prograde on the
shallow shelf. The pulses in sediment accumulation coincide with and are interpreted to increasing pressure
anthropomorphic activity together with peaks of aridity