Aspects of Weichselian Middle Pleniglacial stratigraphy and vegetation in central Poland

Abstract

The basal member of the Piaski Formation in the Bełchatów outcrop of central Poland was deposited between 43700 and 27000 BP. It consists mostly of lacustrine deposits. Its lower part contains several organic layers, fluvial sands and slope deposits. Radiocarbon-dating places the organic horizons in the Moershoofd and Denekamp Interstadials. The first of these interstadials was probably characterized by forest-tundra or scrubtundra conditions, but this needs to be confirmed since the analysed material may represent redeposited pollen. The Denekamp Interstadial was characterized by grass tundra (34000-31000 BP) and finally by discontinuous tundra of the subpolar desert (31000-27000 BP).