Age and palaeoenvironmental significance of an inter-tidal peat bed at Ballywoolen, Bann estuary, Co.Londonderry

Auteur(s) et Affiliation(s)

WILSON, P.

School of Environmental Studies, The University of Ulster, Coleraine, Royaume-Uni

PLUNKETT, G.

School of Geography, Archaeology and Palaeoecology, Queen's University, Belfast, Royaume-Uni

Description :
A recently exposed inter-tidal peat bed at Ballywoolen, Bann estuary, Co. Londonderry, has yielded new information about mid-Holocene coastal environmental change in the north-east of Ireland. Pollen analytical data and wood detritus demonstrate that peat accumulation occurred in a terrestrial environment that was free from marine influence. Radiocarbon dates suggest that the peat accumulated rapidly during a period of low relative sea level subsequent to the maximum of Holocene relative sea-level rise along the north coast of Northern Ireland. The absence of marine/brackish indicator taxa at the site suggests that the tidal range was somewhat less than that at present and/or that the channel of the river was located some distance east of its present alignment. The dates indicate that the low stand lasted for at least 0.2 ka and possibly for 1.1 ka. Stable, woodland-dominated landscapes are indicated at both this site and neighbouring ones around 6.4-5.3 cal ka BP. There is no evidence for large scale aeolian sand movement or human impact on the landscape during the period of peat accumulation.

Type de document :
Article de périodique

Source :
Irish geography (Online), issn : 1939-4055, 2010, vol. 43, n°. 3, p. 265-275, nombre de pages : 11, Références bibliographiques : 33 ref.

Date :
2010

Identifiants :
eurl : http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.1080/00750778.2010.575248, doi : http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/00750778.2010.575248

Editeur :
Pays édition : Royaume-Uni, Abingdon, Taylor and Francis

Langue :
Anglais