Early Holocene volcanic ash fallout in the Yammoûneh lacustrine basin (Lebanon): Tephrochronological implications for the Near East

Abstract

A volcanic ash layer (Tyam-1) was identified in Holocene sediments from the Yammoûneh paleo-lake (Lebanon). The ash layer consisted of colourless shards. The major elemental chemistry of the glass as determined by electron microprobe analyses indicates a rhyolitic composition. Radiocarbon dating of detrital wood fragments located in the ash layer suggests an age of approximately 8.6 ka cal. BP. The timing of the layer and a chemical comparison with other published data suggest that Tyam-1 likely originated from Anatolia, and likely corresponds to early Holocene Z3–Z4–Z5 tephras. The preliminary results provided in this manuscript suggest a new stratigraphical and chronological marker for the continental records of Lebanon and neighbouring regions.