Deglaciation chronology in the mountain area between Suldal and Setesdal, southwestern Norway.

Abstract

Lithostratigraphic studies, 14C dating and pollen analysis were performed onsediments from six basins in the mountain area between Suldal and Setesdal inorder to establish the deglaciation chronology for the area. The deglaciationof the Younger Dryas ice sheet occurred by 10 100\u00B1280 years B.P. at 720 ma.s.l. The Skute thermomer occurred at 10 100-9800 years B.P., the Fidjacryomer at 9800-9700 years B.P., the Sandsaos thermomer at 9700-9300 years B.P.and the Sandsa cryomer at 9300-9100 years B.P. The high mountain area east andnorth of the terminal moraines of presumed Preboreal age was deglaciated by8800 years B.P. and probably the high mountain areas of southern Norway weredeglaciated at this time or 100-200 years later. The inland valley ofSetesdalen seems to have been deglaciated at about the same time as the highmountain area. This indicates that the whole southern Norway was deglaciatedat some 8800-8600 years B.P., most probably 8800 years B.P.