Extending the known distribution of the Younger Dryas Vedde Ash into northwestern Russia

This paper addresses the possible connections between the onset of human expansion in Europe following the Last Glacial Maximum, and the timing of abrupt climate warming at the onset of the Lateglacial (Bö lling/Allerød) Interstadial. There are opposing views as to whether or not human populations and activities were directly 'forced' by climate change, based on different comparisons between archaeological and environmental data. We review the geochronological assumptions and approaches on which data comparisons have been attempted in the past, and argue that the uncertainties presently associated with age models based on calibrated radiocarbon dates preclude robust testing of the competing models, particularly when comparing the data to non-radiocarbonbased timescales such as the Greenland ice core records. The paper concludes with some suggestions as to the steps that will be necessary if more robust tests of the models are to be developed in the future.

Section: The Timing Of Human Expansion In Northwest Europe and Of Abrmentioning

confidence: 99%

The chronology of abrupt climate change and Late Upper Palaeolithic human adaptation in Europe

Blockley

Donahue

et al. 2006

“…yr BP (Grönvold et al, 1995), has been discovered in lake sediment sequences in several parts of Scotland, including sites in the Hebrides Islands and one close to the border with England Turney et al, 1997, Scandinavia (Wastegård et al, 1998), The Netherlands (S.M. Davies et al, unpublished) and northwest Russia (Wastegård et al, 2000)-considerably farther south and east than the limits of visible records of this ash (Fig. 1).…”

Section: Tephras Detected In European Sediment Sequences Of Last Termmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The triangles show main volcanic centres in Europe that were active during the Last Termination. Lower diagram: selected pollen stratigraphical data and position of the Vedde Ash (dark grey shaded area) in profiles from Scotland, Norway, Sweden and western Russia (afterKristiansen et al, 1988;Wastegård et al, 2000;Bjö rck and Wastegård, 1999; B. Wohlfarth and S. Wastegård, pers. comm.).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Tephrochronology of last termination sequences in Europe: a protocol for improved analytical precision and robust correlation procedures (a joint SCOTAV–INTIMATE proposal)

Turney¹,

Lowe

Davies

et al. 2004

Self Cite

115

The precise sequence of events during the Last Termination (18 000-9000 ka 14 C yr BP), and the extent to which major environmental changes were synchronous, are difficult to establish using the radiocarbon method alone because of serious distortions of the radiocarbon time-scale, as well as the influences of site-specific errors that can affect the materials dated. Attention has therefore turned to other methods that can provide independent tests of the chronology and correlation of events during the Last Termination. With emphasis on European sequences, we summarise here the potential of tephrostratigraphy and tephrochronology to fulfil this role. Recent advances in the detection and analysis of 'hidden' tephra layers (cryptotephra) indicate that some tephras of Last Termination age are much more widespread in Europe than appreciated hitherto, and a number of new tephra deposits have also been identified. There is much potential for developing an integrated tephrochronological framework for Europe, which can help to underpin the overall chronology of events during the Last Termination. For that potential to be realised, however, there needs to be a more systematic and robust analysis of tephra layers than has been the practice in the past. We propose a protocol for improving analytical and reporting procedures, as well as the establishment of a centralised data base of the results, which will provide an important geochronological tool to support a diverse range of stratigraphical studies, including opportunities to reassess volcanic hazards. Although aimed primarily at Europe, the protocol proposed here is of equal relevance to other regions and periods of interest.

“…Fine-grained tephra layers consisting mainly of the glass fraction have been discovered in many areas of northwest Europe, for example, the British Isles (Dugmore, 1989;Dugmore et al, , 1995aDugmore et al, , 1995bDugmore et al, , 1996Hall, 1992, 1996;Pilcher et al, 1995;Lowe and Turney, 1997;Turney et al, 1997), Germany (Merkt et al, 1993;van den Bogaard et al, 1994;van den Bogaard and Schmincke, 2002), Scandinavia (Waagstein and Jóhansen, 1968;Mangerud et al, 1984Mangerud et al, , 1986Birks et al, 1996;Boygle, 1998;Wastegård et al, 1998) and Russia (Wastegård et al, 2000). Some of the above works are concerned with Lateglacial and early Holocene (10 000-7000 yr BP) tephras, such as the North Atlantic Ash Zone One (NAAZ1), Vedde (ca.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Towards a Holocene tephrochronology for Sweden: geochemistry and correlation with the North Atlantic tephra stratigraphy

Boygle

2004

Northern Europe has been affected by fallout of tephra from volcanic eruptions in Iceland throughout at least the Late-glacial and Holocene. Microscopic volcanic ash horizons found in the British Isles, northern Germany and Scandinavia (e.g. Hekla 4) now provide important regional isochrons. Over recent years analytical techniques such as electron probe microanalysis (EPMA) have helped identify these distal tephra layers by glass geochemistry. Early tephra work in Sweden used refractive indices and bracketing radiocarbon dates for identification, resulting in tentative correlation. This paper presents geochemical data for Icelandic Holocene tephra in Sweden. Several sites in central Sweden have four distinct mid-Holocene tephra layers. Correlation with the Icelandic record indicates that the following tephra layers are present: Hekla 4 (ca. 3830 yr BP), Kebister tephra (ca. 3600 yr BP), Hekla 3 (ca. 2880 yr BP) and Askja AD 1875. Preliminary analyses suggest that more, previously unidentified, tephra layers are present in low concentrations in the region, indicating potential for expanding the Swedish tephrochronology for palaeoecological and palaeoenvironmental work in northern Europe.