The Pleistocene Solent River and its major tributaries : reinterpreting the fluvial terrace stratigraphy as a framework for the Palaeolithic archaeology of the Solent region
Despite recent interpretations of the fluvial terrace stratigraphies of the Palaeo-Solent River and its major tributaries, the River Test and River Stour, fundamental issues concerning correlation both within and between key parts of the system remain. Addressing these issues is important to provide a secure stratigraphic framework for the Palaeolithic archaeological record of the region. Disagreement centres on contrasting approaches to the construction of long profile projections of terrace sediments and landforms, and on alternative interpretations of limited stratigraphic and topographic data. During the study extensive fieldwork has been carried out in the region, comprising ground penetrating radar surveys, coastal section recording and reexcavation of key sites. In addition, an examination of the available borehole archive held by the British Geological Survey has provided a substantial body of new data on which a reanalysis of the terrace stratigraphy is based. During fieldwork 26 samples of suitable fluvial sediments were also taken for optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) dating. A rigorous OSL analysis and test program applied to these samples highlights a number of issues inherent in dating
Hatch, Marcus
The Pleistocene Solent River and its major tributaries : reinterpreting the fluvial terrace stratigraphy as a framework for the Palaeolithic archaeology of the Solent region. Despite recent interpretations of the fluvial terrace stratigraphies of the Palaeo-Solent River and its major tributaries, the River Test and River Stour, fundamental issues concerning correlation both within and between key parts of the system remain. Addressing these issues is important to provide a secure stratigraphic framework for the Palaeolithic archaeological record of the region. Disagreement centres on contrasting approaches to the construction of long profile projections of terrace sediments and landforms, and on alternative interpretations of limited stratigraphic and topographic data. During the study extensive fieldwork has been carried out in the region, comprising ground penetrating radar surveys, coastal section recording and reexcavation of key sites. In addition, an examination of the available borehole archive held by the British Geological Survey has provided a substantial body of new data on which a reanalysis of the terrace stratigraphy is based. During fieldwork 26 samples of suitable fluvial sediments were also taken for optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) dating. A rigorous OSL analysis and test program applied to these samples highlights a number of issues inherent in dating
pleistocene river major tributary reinterpret fluvial terrace stratigraphy framework palaeolithic_archaeology region despite_recent interpretation fluvial terrace stratigraphy palaeo river major tributary river test river fundamental_issue concern correlation within key part system remain addressing issue important provide secure stratigraphic framework palaeolithic archaeological_record region disagreement centre contrast approach construction long profile projection terrace sediment landforms alternative_interpretation limit stratigraphic topographic data study extensive fieldwork_carry region comprise ground_penetrate radar survey coastal section record key_site addition examination available archive hold british geological survey provide_substantial body new_data reanalysis terrace stratigraphy base fieldwork sample suitable fluvial sediment also take optically_stimulate luminescence dating rigorous analysis test program apply sample highlight number issue inherent date