The geomorphological context of the Brimpton Late Pleistocene succession (south central England)

Abstract

Mapping of the area surrounding the site of the important Brimpton succession shows that it aggraded in a c . 10 m deep depression beneath the low 2 m (Beenham Grange) terrace of the river Kennet system. This is contrary to the previously published account by Bryant et al . (1983) which claimed that the depression underlay the 8 m terrace of the Kennet. The latter situation implied a large magnitude aggradation and incision cycle during the Late Devensian (post 25 ka bp ) and this factor had led to doubts as to whether the 2 superposed interstadials in the lower part of the depression were of early Devensian age. Geomorphological reaffirmation of a Devensian age plus new data makes the Brimpton-Woolhampton Gravel Pit sequence one of the most complete onshore Devensian records yet identified in Britain.