New Radiocarbon Data from the Paleosols of the NYíRSéG blown Sand Area, Hungary

Abstract

Despite many ideas about the age and processes of sand movements and paleosol formation, there are still some uncertainties in this relations in the Nyírség, eastern Hungary. The major aim of the present study was to clarify the chronology of fossil soils and blown-sand layers in the sand dunes of the Nyírség using radiocarbon (14C) dating on soil and charcoal samples. Charcoal and soil samples were collected from buried paleosols from different sand quarries for 14C dating. The bulk organic carbon content of the buried soil and charcoal pieces recovered from buried fossil soil layers allowed parallel 14C accelerator mass spectrometry dating in several cases. The new 14C results indicate paleosol development during Younger Dryas, while the preceding interstadial was assumed as a cold and dry period when only sand movement occurred in the area. Our results also confirm and support the previous assumptions, that in the Late Glacial, the first paleosol development period was during the Bølling-Allerød Interstadial. Four soil-forming periods could be determined during the Holocene (Preboreal, Boreal, Atlantic, Subatlantic). We have also indirectly identified sand movements during the Oldest Dryas, Younger Dryas, Preboreal, Boreal, and Subatlantic phase in the study area.

New Radiocarbon Dates From Polish Inland Dunes Point to Prevalence of Human Impact on Dune Mobility

“…Radiocarbon ( 14 C) dating of paleosols buried in aeolian sandy deposits remains the centerpiece of such studies in Poland and adjacent countries for more than 40 years (Sokołowski et al 2022 and references therein). However, as new outcrops become available, the need for conducting further 14 C age measurements persists (Tolksdorf and Kaiser 2012; Buró et al 2019, 2022; Kappler et al 2019; Moska et al 2020, 2022; Sokołowski et al 2022). New 14 C dates can help corroborate or reevaluate existing knowledge on the chronology of dune activity and stabilization.…”