Small shards and long distances — three cryptotephra layers from the Nahe palaeolake including the first discovery of Laacher See Tephra in Schleswig‐Holstein (Germany)

Sascha Krüger,Christel Van Den Bogaard

doi:10.1002/jqs.3264

Abstract

ABSTRACTInvestigations of Lateglacial to Early Holocene lake sediments from the Nahe palaeolake (northern Germany) provided a high‐resolution palynological record. To increase the temporal resolution of the record a targeted search for cryptotephra was carried out on the basis of pollen stratigraphy. Three cryptotephra horizons were detected and geochemically identified as G10ka series tephra (a Saksunarvatn Ash), Vedde Ash and Laacher See Tephra. Here we present the first geochemically confirmed finding of the ash from the Laacher See Eruption in Schleswig‐Holstein—extending the so far detected fallout fan of the eruption further to the north‐west. These finds enable direct stratigraphical correlations and underline the potential of the site for further investigations.

Highlights

Schleswig‐Holstein, the northernmost German federal state, holds a key position in palaeo‐environmental as well as archaeological research of the Lateglacial and Early Holocene
For the first time a complete Lateglacial to Early Holocene sequence is described without being affected by the Allerød–Younger Dryas hiatus that had been documented for numerous lake sediments in northern Germany and Denmark (Krüger and Damrath 2019; Bennike et al 2004; Usinger 1981)
This would, provide the opportunity to directly correlate the record with important European key sites of Lateglacial–Early Holocene research

Summary

Introduction

Schleswig‐Holstein, the northernmost German federal state, holds a key position in palaeo‐environmental as well as archaeological research of the Lateglacial and Early Holocene. This is due to the fact that the region provided a north‐facing corridor after the retreat of the glaciers. An attempt was made to identify tephra layers as additional chronological horizons to supplement radiocarbon dating of macrofossils, as volcanic ash layers mainly represent single events. This would, provide the opportunity to directly correlate the record with important European key sites of Lateglacial–Early Holocene research. While recording and describing the NAH sediment sequence, no visible ash horizons could be detected

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