A diatom and radiocarbon perspective of the palaeoenvironmental history and stratigraphy of Holocene deposits between Oostende and Nieuwpoort (western coastal plain, Belgium)

Diatom and radiocarbon data of two cores from the north-eastern part of the western Belgian coastal plain are discussed. The palaeoenvironmental reconstruction of these sites and additional stratigraphic and geochronological information, allow an assessment of the general development of this region throughout the Holocene. Prior to c. 7500 yrs cal. BP a rapidly transgressing coast exists. Basal peat development may have been fairly wide­spread. Extensive erosion channels form towards the interior once the volume of the developing tidal basin has in­creased sufficiently. In spite of very high r... Mehr ...