The evolution of Neogene and Quaternary littoral basins in the Eastern
Betic Cordillera is largely related to tectonic activity along the Ea
stern Betic sinistral shear zone. Detailed mapping of sedimentary unit
s in these basins, together with sedimentological and paleomagnetic an
alysis lead to the proposal of a new chronostratigraphic framework for
Pliocene and Quaternary deposits. This chronostratigraphic setting re
jects the synchronous character of the ''Pliocene Units'' previously r
eferred to as: ''P.I'' (grey-blue marls), ''P.II'' (yellow calcarenite
s), and ''P.III'' (variegated silts and clays). Instead, tectonics wou
ld have controlled the paleogeographic evolution of the Eastern Betic
realms, causing the lithofacies to occur repeated in space and time. T
he Plio-Pleistocene boundary in these basins is not accompanied by cha
nges in geodynamic behaviour or climatic conditions. According to the
paleomagnetic data, these changes occurred at different times during t
he Pleistocene in the different studied basins.