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Deeply entrenched channels namely badland gullies occur on the gently sloping valley floors of any alluvial basins in the semi-arid environments of Fossa Bradanica, Basilicata, southern Italy. Valley fills in this region consist of predominantly Holocene alluvium; late Pleistocene deposits occur as terraces above the present flood plain or as eroded benches buried beneath younger alluvium. Historical fluvial deposition began before 7000 a cal. BP and ended at around 120 a cal. BP. In this study, we focus on the channel entrenchment (badland gullies incision) in the last 4500 years, based on a detailed study of chronostratigraphic alluvial sequences of Basento River. Four main phases of incision have been recorded at around 4500-4350, 1500, 900-800, and 120 a cal. BP. The formation of late-Holocene badland gullies can be related to changes in climate, vegetation and groundwater conditions. Environmental history mainly derived from the high-resolution pollen record of Lago Grande di Monticchio. Bad land gullies formation appears to be linked to repeated dry-wet cycles. During dry periods, water tables significantly dropped and vegetation cover decreased with increase in runoff and water discharge from rainfall, leading to deepening and widening of stream channels.