The Flandrian Temperate Stage

Abstract

Appropriate nomenclature for the most recent Pleistocene stage has generated more discussion than that pertaining to the naming of any other division of this rank (Mangerud et al. 1974; Paepe et al. 1976; Hyvarinen 1978; Mangerud and Berglund 1978; West 1979). The present interglacial has been termed the Flandrian after a marine transgression within its timespan which has been identified on the Flemish coastal plain. With a lower limit of 10 000 radiocarbon years BP, the Flandrian usually has been considered equivalent to the formally designated Holocene Series and the informal Postglacial episode. The use of Flandrian has been recommended in the British Isles, although for Ireland the term Littletonian has been presented as synonymous (Mitchell et al. 1973a) (Table 10.1).