Rediocarbon dates from Late Weichselian lake sediments in south Sewden as a basis for chronostratigraphic subdivision

Abstract

Altogether 62 radiocarbon dates from 17 pollen diagrams (16 sites) of Late Weichselian lake sediments in S Sweden have been determined to establish the chronostratigraphic sequence as defined by the pollen stratigraphy. This method of controlling the dates and the validity of the assumed synchronous Nordic climatostratigraphy are discussed. Most of the dates sufer from age erors, mainly caused by contamination by redeposited organic material. The effect of this source of error increases with decreasing percent of organic carbon in the deated samples. The significance of these problems for the Late Weichselian chronostratigraphic subdivision as well as ways of solving them are discussed.