Indigenous Tilia platyphyllos in Britain

Abstract

IN Late-Quaternary deposits in England, pollen grains of Tilia have their maximum frequency, as a rule, in strata formed during the Post-Glacial climatic optimum. This fact was reported many years ago1, and has been amply confirmed by later investigations. To the finds of Tilia pollen made hitherto (exclusively finds of T. cordata2) can now be added the finding by one of us (J. P. T. B.) of peat at Addington, Kent, the pollen flora of which was later investigated by Erdtman and found to contain—in its basal portions—pollen grains of Tilia platyphyllos. This peat bed seals an occupation site of Mesolithic age characterized by axes, gravers and microliths.