Moraine-like ridges at Skaralid canyon, Southern Sweden, and their relationship to lateglacial cold periods

Moraine-like ridges in the Skäralid canyon at the Söderåsen horst, Southern Sweden, are interpreted not as features formed during the deglaciation of the Weichsel ice sheet, but as forms related to lateglacial tundra conditions. This is suggested by their location and morphology and is supported by TL-dates of the sandy matrix in two of the ridges, yielding ages between 10,400 and 10,800 B.P. The environmental significance of the ridges is further discussed on the basis of their sedimentology. As severe wind action in lateglacial time in this part of Sweden is implied by numerous wind-polished rocks, the ridges may have formed as protalus ramparts or end moraines in front of snowfields or small glaciers, nourished by strong snowdrifting. Alternatively, small openwork ridges may be incipient fossil rock glaciers.