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The timing of aeolian events near archaeological settlements around Heidebos (Moervaart area, N Belgium)

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  24 March 2014

C. Derese ,
D.A.G. Vandenberghe ,
A. Zwertvaegher ,
M. Court-Picon ,
P. Crombé ,
J. Verniers  and
P. Van den haute
C. Derese*
Affiliation:
Laboratory of Mineralogy and Petrology (Luminescence Research Group), Department of Geology and Soil Science, Ghent University, Krijgslaan 281 (S8), B-9000 Gent, Belgium
D.A.G. Vandenberghe
Affiliation:
Laboratory of Mineralogy and Petrology (Luminescence Research Group), Department of Geology and Soil Science, Ghent University, Krijgslaan 281 (S8), B-9000 Gent, Belgium
A. Zwertvaegher
Affiliation:
Laboratory of Soil Science, Department of Geology and Soil Science, Ghent University, Krijgslaan 281 (S8), B-9000 Gent, Belgium
M. Court-Picon
Affiliation:
Laboratory of Palaeontology, Department of Geology and Soil Science, Ghent University, Krijgslaan 281 (S8), B-9000 Gent, Belgium
P. Crombé
Affiliation:
Prehistory and Protohistory Research Group, Department of Archaeology, Ghent University, Sint-Pietersnieuwstraat 35 (Ufo), B-9000 Gent, Belgium
J. Verniers
Affiliation:
Laboratory of Palaeontology, Department of Geology and Soil Science, Ghent University, Krijgslaan 281 (S8), B-9000 Gent, Belgium
P. Van den haute
Affiliation:
Laboratory of Mineralogy and Petrology (Luminescence Research Group), Department of Geology and Soil Science, Ghent University, Krijgslaan 281 (S8), B-9000 Gent, Belgium
*
Email: cilia.derese@ugent.be

Abstract

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At the locality of Heidebos (Moervaart area, N Flanders, Belgium), a sedimentary core was taken in the Maldegem-Stekene coversand ridge and dated using optically stimulated luminescence (OSL). The study aimed at contributing to an improved understanding of the evolution of the physical landscape around archaeological settlements in this area. The core comprised a 7 m thick series of laminated and massive aeolian sands, in which several organic layers were intercalated. From this sequence, 11 samples were collected for quartz-based SAR-OSL dating; an internally consistent dataset was obtained. The ages of the lowermost 1 m of the sedimentary sequence (15.5±1.1 ka and 17.3±1.3 ka) imply that these sediments may represent the time-equivalent deposit of a deflation phase that occurred during the Late Pleniglacial and led to the formation of a widespread desert pavement, regionally known as the Beuningen Gravel Bed. However, a significant part of the sediments (at least 4 m) was deposited later, i.e. during the Allerød and/or the Late Dryas. As such, the results allow establishing the genesis of the coversand ridge at the Heidebos locality on the basis of direct age information. The relatively high sedimentation rate and the absence of extensive soil formation in the record reflect periods of pronounced aeolian activity and landscape instability during the Late Glacial, which provides part of the environmental framework for human occupation in the area.

Keywords

Late GlacialMaldegem-Stekene coversand ridgeMoervaart depressionNW European coversand beltOptically stimulated luminescence datingQuartz
Type
Research Article
Information
Netherlands Journal of Geosciences , Volume 89 , Issue 3-4 , December 2010 , pp. 173 - 186
Copyright
Copyright © Stichting Netherlands Journal of Geosciences 2013

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