Climate oscillations and tephrochronology in eastern middle Sweden during the last glacial-interglacial transition

Two sequences spanning the last glacial–interglacial transition in southern Östergötland, eastern middle Sweden have been investigated for high-resolution vegetation change and tephrochronology. Organic carbon and pollen analysis indicates that the Younger Dryas–Preboreal climatic transition was characterised by at least one well-defined oscillation or possibly two shorter climatic oscillations. The Vedde Ash (ca. 12000 GRIP yr BP or ca. 10300 14C yr BP) has been identified at both sites, significantly increasing the known distribution of this marker horizon. In addition, a previously unrecorded rhyolitic tephra of Icelandic origin has been identified at ca. 9000 14C yr BP. The expansion of Corylus into southern Östergötland is estimated to be ca. 9400 14C yr BP.