Flandrian pollen profiles from the Nar Valley, Norfolk (Great Britain): An analysis of deteriorated pollen percentages using consolidation pressures

Abstract

Deteriorated pollen percentages have been recorded from Flandrian Fenland sediments at two sites in the Nar Valley, Norfolk. The use of compression data from a soil mechanics technique, the oedometer test, has important bearing on the interpretation of the amount and types of deteriorated pollen encountered in the pollen stratigraphy of the sediments. In particular, it is shown that the amorphous category of deterioration does not appear to be related to physical pressures but increases in importance where corroded grains also become significant. Further oedometer tests are required on samples from different areas with different stress histories within and outside the Fenland basin to ascertain whether such trends are consistent features.