WEICHSELIAN PALEOENVIRONMENTS AT KOBBELGARD, MON, DENMARK

Lithostratigraphical and palynological investigations of a coastal cliff section at Kobbelgard, Mon (Denmark) reveal a sedimentary sequence of Weichselian age. Bedded clayey sediments are overlain by stratified silt, sand and occasional beds of clay and gravel. The clay was deposited in water, and most of the silt and sand is aeolian, forming fairly thick units of loess and sand-loess. The lower part of the sequence forms an anticlinal structure, probably of glacio-tectonic origin. The upper part of the sequence appears to represent a depression filling. In the lower part of this, clayey layers alternating with loess deposits suggest wet conditions periodically. In the upper part, loess and fine sand were deposited, interfingering with slope sediments in a periglacial environment from around 24,000 BP almost until the Weichselian glacial maximum. Pollen investigations at the site point to three periods of vegetation. The lowest pollen sequence contains much Ericales, Empetrum and occasionally also Pinus, and is thought to be of Early Glacial or Lower Pleniglacial age. Overlying pollen-bearing strata with high proportions of herbs, including Artemisia, antedate a TL dating of c. 27,000 BP. An upper pollen sequence, derived from slightly organic layers in the depression fill, points to a palaeovegetation almost exclusively of herbs, with Artemisia as an important component. This vegetation is thought to represent a relatively moist site, and is TL dated to c. 24,000 BP.