A complete Late Weichselian and Holocene record of aeolian coversands, drift sands and soils forced by climate change and human impact, Ossendrecht, the Netherlands

Cornelis Kasse,Gerald Aalbersberg

doi:10.1017/njg.2019.3

Abstract

AbstractA stacked aeolian sequence with intercalated soils is presented from the southern Netherlands, which fully covers the Late Weichselian and Holocene periods. An integrated sedimentological (sedimentary structures, grain size), palynological (pollen) and dating approach (radiocarbon, optically stimulated luminescence (OSL)) was applied to unravel climatic and human forcing factors. The dating results of soils and sediments are compatible, and no large hiatuses between the radiocarbon-dated top of the soils and OSL-dated overlying sands were observed. It is argued that the peaty top of wet-type podzols can be used for reliable radiocarbon dating. This study reveals more phases than previously known of landscape stability (Usselo Soil and two podzol soils) and instability (Younger Coversand I and II, two drift-sand units) that are related to Late Weichselian climate change and Holocene human occupation. Regional aeolian deposition in source-bordering (river) dunes (Younger Coversand II) took place in the second part of the Younger Dryas, after 12.3 ka cal. BP, implying a delayed response to Younger Dryas cooling, vegetation cover decline and river pattern change of the Scheldt. The onset of podzolisation and development of ericaceous vegetation occurred prior to the introduction of Neolithic farming, which is earlier than previously assumed. Early podzolisation was followed by a short phase of local drift-sand deposition, atc.5500 cal. BP, that possibly relates to agriculture. Strong human impact on the landscape by deforestation and agriculture resulted in a second phase of widespread drift-sand deposition covering the younger podzol soil after AD 1000.

Highlights

Phases of aeolian deposition and soil formation during the Late Weichselian have been associated with climate and climate change (Van der Hammen & Wijmstra, 1971)
Cold conditions and sand deposition occurred during the Late Pleniglacial, Older Dryas and Younger Dryas periods, while warmer conditions during the Bølling, Allerød and Holocene resulted in soil formation
The upper 8 m of the exposure consist of grey and yellow, fine (63–250 μm) to medium (250–500 μm) aeolian sands with intercalated soils that belong to the Boxtel Formation (Wierden Member, Delwijnen Member, Kootwijk Member) of late Weichselian and Holocene age (Fig. 2)

Summary

Introduction

Phases of aeolian deposition and soil formation during the Late Weichselian have been associated with climate and climate change (Van der Hammen & Wijmstra, 1971). Cold conditions and sand deposition occurred during the Late Pleniglacial, Older Dryas and Younger Dryas periods, while warmer conditions during the Bølling, Allerød and Holocene resulted in soil formation. The classic aeolian record of the Late Weichselian in the Netherlands (Older Coversand I, Beuningen Gravel Bed, Older Coversand II, Lower Loamy Bed, Younger Coversand I, Usselo Soil, Younger Coversand II) (Van der Hammen 1951, 1971; Vandenberghe et al, 2013 and references therein) has been recognised in large parts of northwest, central and southwestern Europe In the Early Holocene, Mesolithic hunter-gatherer activity, intentional forest fires and habitation resulted in early heathland development, soil acidification, podzolisation and local drift-sand formation (Van Geel et al, 2017; Sevink et al, 2018)

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