Dating recent alluvial sediments in the Wicklow Mountains

Authors

  • Martin Thorp National University of Ireland. Dublin (UCD)
  • Colman Gallagher National University of Ireland. Dublin (UCD)

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.55650/igj.1999.355

Abstract

Modern floodplain sediments in the Wicklow Mountains display a stratigraphy and sedimentology that contrasts them with earlier Holocene alluvium. During previous research 14C dates of lightly constrained stratigraphies in one valley indicated a commencement date between 190+/-60 yr BP and 580+/-50 yr BP and mining generated enhanced lead metal values in another valley implied a commencement date there of AD 1780–1800. The paper presents the results of a 14C dating programme the objects of which were to date (a) more definitively their commencement throughout the Wicklow Mountains and (b) their internal stratigraphies with a view to establishing a Hood chronology. AMS and radiometric 14C dating techniques were applied to organic fractions and paniculate organic matter extracted from thin organic-rich layers within sampled sedimentary sequences. The dates spanned 780+/-60 BP to 3396+/-46 BP and provided neither a Coherent commencement period nor an accurate chronostratigraphy and the modern sediments appear to be dominated by old carbon derived from the catchment blanket peats. Although these results show that the immediate research aims cannot be achieved using 14C dating they have led to a clearer understanding of the sourcing and dynamics of the modern style of sedimentation.

Author Biographies

Martin Thorp, National University of Ireland. Dublin (UCD)

Department of Geography

Colman Gallagher, National University of Ireland. Dublin (UCD)

Department of Geography

Published

2015-01-06

How to Cite

Thorp, M., & Gallagher, C. (2015). Dating recent alluvial sediments in the Wicklow Mountains. Irish Geography, 32(2), 112–125. https://doi.org/10.55650/igj.1999.355

Issue

Section

Original Articles

URN

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