Abstract
A well-developed erosional shoreline is developed in various rock types along the west coast of Scotland between Morven and the Firth of Clyde. Over the last eighty years the shoreline hasbeen interpreted successively as Holocene, interglacial and Lateglacial in age. Several geomorphological arguments support the Lateglacial hypothesis which involves rapid, periglacial coastal erosion during the Younger Dryas (Loch Lomond) Stadial. In order to test this hypothesis, uranium series disequilibrium dating of speleothem deposits from undercuts and caves at the base of the cliffline of the Main Rock Platform on the Isle of Lismore is being carried out. Shoreline formation during the Loch Lomond Stadial would mean only Holocene ages for the speleothems. Preliminary results indicate a predominance of Holocene ages, but one oxygen isotope Stage 5 data has been obtained. Other evidence also presents problems for a Lateglacial age. It may be that the formation of the Main Rock Platform has been polycyclic, though further dates are required to confirm these findings.
Published Version
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