The problem of rebedded pollen in late-glacial sediments at Taunton, Massachusetts

Abstract

The occurrence of pollen of tree genera not found in the modern flora of the United States and Canada in late-glacial sediments from the Williams Street bog near Taunton, Massachusetts, is considered evidence of contamination of the sediments with secondary pollen rebedded from pre-Quaternary deposits. Nearby varved clays also contain these pollen types, and because the local till contains little if any pollen, it is concluded that the secondary pollen was carried in glacial meltwater from the vicinity of Tertiary deposits 23 mi. to the NE. The late-glacial bog sediments were apparently contaminated either directly by meltwater streams, or through the erosion and redeposition of meltwater stream deposits. As the secondary pollen spectrum cannot be determined with certainty, it is impossible to interpret the mixed secondary and primary pollen spectrum contained in the late-glacial sediments.