Deglaciation chronology and marine environments in southwestern Sweden

Four sites in northwestern Dalsland and southwestern VHrmland, southwestern Sweden were investigated. including studies of marine biostratigraphy and AMS datings. A marine foraminifera and mollusc fauna existed in the area between c . 10 400 and 9700 ¹⁴C years BP. Arctic assemblages dominate the lowermost layers, deposited immediately after the deglaciation. A transition to more diverse faunas affected by a higher meltwater influence and decreasing water depths is recorded higher up in the succession. Northwestern Dalsland was dcglaciated between c . 10 400 and 10 200 BP, and southwestern Viirmland between c . 10 100 and 9800 BP. A stagnation in the retreat of the ice margin is suggested at 10 300 to 10 200 BP. The subsequent rapid ice recession was probably an effect of warmer conditions at the Pleistocene-Holocene climatic transition. A similar shift in the early Preboreal (c. 9900 BP) probably represents the dcglaciation which followed after the stagnation at the Ski moraines. Renewed glacial activity is indicated at c . 9700 BP.