Abstract:
In the Burbage area, Southern Pennines, four field sections have been studied in detail. Based on these investigations a tentative chronology of the Late-glacial and Post-glacial periods has been proposed. In the Lower Dryas cryergic processes were active and fresh congelifractate was produced. But a large part of the Lower Dryas head (Tod`s Mouth Head) is an earlier head reworked by cryergic processes. Solifluction and, in places, meltwater action were active 11.1d a large quantity of weathered debris was conveyed to the valley bottom, and a 9feet high aggradation terrace (Tod`s Mouth) was formed. During the Allerod (Gak-1884 11590 ± 360 years) cryergic processes ceased and were replaced by chemical weathering and fluvial processes. Soil and vegetation developed over a large part of the area, and Burbage brook incised into the Toad`s Mouth Terrace. In the renewed periglacial milieu of the Upper Dryas, vegetation was destroyed and soil removed by washes and meltwater. The Allerod soil was churned up and mixed with the head that moved down the slopes. Free faces were being formed and congelifractate produced, but in most cases the older head was reworked and deposited as the younger or the Burbage Head. While the Burbage brook passed through another phase of aggradation and the Burbage Terrace was formed. The Post-glaical climatic amelioration is recorded in the drying of bogs and the growth of an alder-birch formation in the upper reaches of the Burgage brook, during most of the Boreal period. On the uplands the boreal vegetation was destroyed by the onset of wet oceanic condition in the Atlantic and replaced by wide stretches of peat mires. By the end of the Bronze Age and the beginning of the Iron Age (Gak-1772 2470 ± 80 and Gak-1773 2420 ± 90 years) this area was inhabited by a large number of people and vast areas were cleared. As a result, the forest soil and the underlying fine material were carried down by washes and streams. This sudden increase in the weathered debris resulted in the formation of an aggradation terrace (Parson Terrace). There is evidence that peat erosion was initiated immediately after 495 B.C. The onset of west climate conditions during the Sub-atlantic seem to have been the major factor affecting its initiation. During the Roman times (Gak-1774 1730 ± 90 years) the lower parts of the Burbage basin were covered by sparse woodland dominated by hazel and oak. This vegetation cover was partially removed .about A.D. 220. The forest soil so released was deposited as spreads of mud by washes and streams. This local deforestation is also recorded in a minor phase of aggradation in the burbage brook. The loss of forest vegetation from the margins of the topogenou peat resulted in peat erosion. Eroded peat was deposited lower down the slopes and, in places, buried the actively growing peat. This represents a long phase of deforestation, between A.D 1300 and 1800, far more widespread than noted earlier.
Page(s):
29-38
DOI:
DOI not available
Published:
Journal: Journal of Science and Technology, Volume: 2, Issue: 1--2, Year: 1978