New evidence on the vertebrate fauna, stratigraphy and palaeobotany of the interglacial deposits at Swanton Morley, Norfolk

Abstract

Summary The stratigraphy and palaeobotany of new in situ exposures of interglacial deposits at Swanton Morley, Norfolk are described. These organic sediments, which probably accumulated in a river back channel, are shown to cover pollen zones Ib to IIb of the Ipswichian interglacial. Macroscopic plant fossils include a new record for Trapa natans from subzone Ip IIb. Vertebrate remains from the new excavations, and from previous finds, have been pollen-dated. The Ip IIa fauna, the first recorded from this subzone, includes Emys orbicularis , small mammals including Microtus oeconomus , and some large mammals. Hippopotamus amphibies is recorded from early zone Ip III. Of particular interest are hazelnuts gnawed by Apodemus , and large mammal bones damaged by Crocuta .