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Palaeosols (fossil soils) are abundant in the alluvial late Silurian–early Devonian Moor Cliffs Formation and Rat Island Mudstone (Freshwater West Formation) of south Dyfed, South Wales. The palaeosols occur in thick mudstones deposited on floodplains under a seasonal, semi-arid climate, and represent Vertisol-type soils. Simple, single profiles are rare and most of the mudstone intervals exhibit complex overprinted profiles. However, a major difference exists between the palaeo-Vertisols in each of the two units studied. The Moor Cliffs Formation contains thick floodplain intervals with evidence of frequent erosion and reactivation of earlier soil horizons. The associated coarser channel deposits mainly represent ephemeral streams. The alluvial system was unstable, flashy and prone to extensive stripping of stored floodplain sediment. Arroyos (unstable ephemeral stream channels) probably developed during this interval. Evidence for any marine influence on soil development is missing and previous speculations that the formation may represent deposition in an upper-intertidal or supratidal system are not supported. The Rat Island Mudstone represents a complete contrast in that there was little or no stripping of floodplain sediments. The channel deposits are typically of the fining-upwards type representing more stable, low sinuosity channels and with ephemeral-stream floods. By integrating the palaeosols, a more detailed picture of the geomorphic history of these units can be formulated. Comparison with contemporary drainage basins indicates that a change in climate was a possible cause for the differences between the two units, less frequent and more severe storms occurring during the deposition of the Rat Island Mudstone.

Samples of sediment collected from the Severn floodplain between Worcester and Gloucester following the severe flooding in January and February 1990, were analysed for their grain size distribution. The results show that most sand was deposited within 20 m of the channel bank, but that fine sand may contribute to flood sediment across the width of the floodplain. James' (1985) numerical model of overbank sedimentation attempts to predict the transfer of sediment to the floodplain during flooding. Geometrical and hydraulic data relating to the Severn flood are used as input for a computer program of James' (1985) model. The pattern of sediment concentrations predicted by the model was compared with that obtained from statistical analysis of the flood sediment. The patterns were found to be similar, so James' (1985) model was considered to predict in a relative sense the distribution of flood sediment.

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Abundant arthropod trackways, assigned to Diplichnites gouldi, are described from the Lower Old Red Sandstone (Early Devonian; Lochkovian) of Pant-y-Maes quarry, Brecon Beacons, South Wales. The trackways are preserved on bedding planes of finely laminated planar and rippled siltstones. The sedimentology of the succession indicates that these units represent bar top and marginal deposits in a braided fluvial setting. Two trackway types are recognized (Type A and B); comparisons with contemporaneous myriapodous producers favour kampecarid and eoarthropleurid myriapods, respectively. Functional analysis of the trackways indicates that the producers were not using the most efficient, stable, walking techniques, but instead utilized in-phase ‘swimming stroke’-like gaits. Together with their occurrence on rippled surfaces, and lateral displacement of some trackways (attributed to currents), this indicates that they were produced sub-aqueously.