Application of sedimentological analysis to correlation of eroded layers under beaches with local and regional Pleistocene stratigraphy: A contribution to geological dating of Palaeolithic sites, northern coast of Brittany, France

Sedimentological and malacological comparisons between the Upper Saalian and Upper Weichselian loess superimposed in the Nantois cliff (Brittany, France): Reconstruction of their environments south of the British Ice Sheet

“…In summary, the "Old loess" of Nantois site which is lying under a solilucted layer represents the bedrock of a paleosol which can be correlated with the Eemian and rest above a sandy layer which is also present at Les Vallée site. At its top a Palaeolithic layer can be recognized (Huet, 2011). Because the archaeological layer is dated at about 165 Ka by ESR-U/ h (Bahain et al, 2012), the age of the "old loess" of Nantois can be estimated as ranging between 170 Ka and 130 Ka.…”

“…he formation of Port-Morvan spreads between MIS 4 and the beginning of MIS 3, between 75 and 40 ka. he formation of Sables-d'Or-les-Pins developed between the second half of MIS 3 and MIS 2, between 40 and 15 ka (Monnier, 1973;Monnier and Bigot, 1987;Bigot, 1986;Loyer et al, 1995;Monnier et al, 2011;Bahain et al, 2012). Taking account of all these data correlations between the Middle and Upper Pleistocene subdivisions of Northern Brittany with other units of Western Europe is proposed in Table 1.…”

France: Submerged Prehistory on Atlantic and Mediterranean Coasts

“…Data from the SPLASHCOS Viewer at http://splashcos-viewer.eu (Fig. 12.3;Coutard 2003;Coutard and Cliquet 2005;Monnier 2006;Lefort et al 2011;Monnier et al 2011). All are associated with Pleistocene deposits of various types, including raised beaches, loess and periglacial deposits, and many of the artefacts are made on flint derived from Cretaceous formations that are now submerged.…”

“…Some of these sites are associated with earlier periods of high sea level, particularly MIS 5e (Eemian), others with the Last Glacial Period (MIS 4 and 3). These deposits are geologically in situ, but it is sometimes difficult to distinguish those that are at the base of the cliff from those that are being exposed in the intertidal zone by erosion of the overlying beach deposits (Monnier et al 2011). We present below examples of the latter type, which clearly belong to a land surface that was subsequently inundated by sea-level rise.…”

Onshore and offshore evidences for four abrupt “warming” episodes during MIS 6 at the westernmost tip of continental Europe: did they control the migrations of Neanderthals?

“…Monnier et al, 2011). Recent measurements show that layer 35 can be dated at 166 ± 8 ka 534(Bahain et al, 2012).535 -The 15 m thick stratigraphic sequence of Piégu site is made of 14 layers indexed from A to N 536 from the bottom to the top.…”