Early Holocene alluvia in the lower Wisłok River valley and their chronostratigraphy in the light of radiocarbon datings and palynological analysis

Abstract

Abstract:The paper presents the results of the latest radiocarbon dating and the palynological analyses of organic sediments found in the alluvia of the Wisłok River valley between the towns of Łańcut and Przeworsk. The study conducted in the gravel pit made possible the dating of several alluvial fills of the 7-8 m high Holocene terrace and the 5-6 m high floodplain. The oldest channel alluvia and palaeochannel sediments of the 7-8 m high terrace were dated at 10 100-9300 BP (11 960-10 500 cal BP). According to the anthracological analysis the top cover of clay overbank alluvia, which bears charcoal fragments, was deposited in the Subboreal and/or the Subatlantic Phases. In the sequence of the 5-6 m high floodplain, the bottom fills of palaeochannels, dated at 10 195-9885 cal BP (probability level: 68.2%; GdS-3233: 8900 ± 95 BP ) and 11 095-10 755 cal BP (probability level: 68.2%; GdS-3228: 9575 ± 95 BP), were truncated by erosion and covered by alluvia of palaeomeanders, which were active in the 19 th century. Preservation of the erosional bench of the Early Holocene organic sediments indicates the predomination of lateral migration of the river channel during the last 200 years and the formation of wide erosional floodplain that has been aggraded with recent flood alluvia. In the 20 th century the floodplain aggradation was simultaneous with the deepening of the Wisłok riverbed.