Danish pollen records radiocarbon‐dated to between 50000 and 57000 yr BP

Abstract

AbstractRadiocarbon‐dated pollen diagrams from four Danish sequences are presented in their sedimentological context. The pollen diagrams indicate the former presence of stands of Betula and Pinus and of Ericales, Poaceae, Cyperaceae and other herbs. From a straightforward comparison with other diagrams, one of the present series is tentatively correlated with part of the Early Weichselian Brørup Interstadial and two with parts of the Odderade Interstadial, which has not been demonstrated previously in Denmark. One diagram and part of another do not seem to match previously published records in northwest Europe. Yet, the possibility that the sediments date to hitherto unrecorded periods with environmental conditions similar to those reflected in known Weichselian deposits is not excluded. In two of the sequences high percentages of charcoal particles suggest the former occurrence of fires, which influenced the palaeovegetation and soil surface stability. It is suggested that counting of charcoal particles is included in future investigations in order to establish whether periods with fires can be identified in the sedimentary sequences.