Abstract
The floodplain deposits of the upper Thames and its tributaries commonly comprise 0.5–1 m of clay alluvium overlying, with a sharp boundary, a variable thickness of sandy limestone gravel. Samples of wood (probably alder root) from the top of the gravel in a temporary exposure (SP 360084) in the floodplain of the river Windrush, south of Witney, Oxfordshire, gave a radiocarbon date of 2,660±85 yr BP (I-9337); these roots had been truncated at the gravel/clay interface. Here we consider the sequence of events and the possible causes of this change to clay deposition; we conclude that the latter resulted chiefly from a rapid increase in local forest clearance and in the amount of ploughed land, after 2,660 yr BP.
This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution
Access options
Subscribe to this journal
Receive 51 print issues and online access
$199.00 per year
only $3.90 per issue
Buy this article
- Purchase on Springer Link
- Instant access to full article PDF
Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Lambrick, G. & Robinson, M. Iron Age and Roman Riverside Settlements at Farmoor, Oxfordshire, 111, 118 and 141 (Oxfordshire Archaeological Unit Report No 2, 1979).
Shotton, F. W. & Williams, R. E. G. Radiocarbon 13, 141–156 (1971).
Williams, R. E. G. & Johnson, A. S. Radiocarbon 18, 249–267 (1976).
Shephard-Thorn, E. R. Proc. geol. Ass. 86, 537–547 (1975).
Kerney, M. P., Brown, E. H. & Chandler, T. J. Phil. Trans. B248, 135–204 (1964).
Starkel, L. in Proc. Int. Symp. on World Climate 800–0 BC (ed. Sawyer, J. S.) 15–33 (London, 1967).
Evans, J. G. The Environment of Early Man in the British Isles, 145–7 (Paul Elek, London, 1975).
Shotton, F. W. in The Effect of Man on the Landscape: the Lowland Zone (eds Limbrey, S. & Evans, J. G.) 27–32 (Council for British Archaeology, Research Report No 21, 1978).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Hazelden, J., Jarvis, M. Age and significance of alluvium in the Windrush valley, Oxfordshire. Nature 282, 291–292 (1979). https://doi.org/10.1038/282291a0
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/282291a0
This article is cited by
-
Holocene alluviation and hydrology in the upper Thames basin
Nature (1984)
-
Age and significance of alluvium in the Windrush Valley
Nature (1980)
Comments
By submitting a comment you agree to abide by our Terms and Community Guidelines. If you find something abusive or that does not comply with our terms or guidelines please flag it as inappropriate.
