Weichselian interstadial pollen stratigraphy from a Veiki plateau at Rissejauratj in Norrbotten, northern Sweden

Abstract

The Quaternary history of northern Sweden as known today is based on studies on glacial landforms and Quaternary deposits. In these studies the north-eastern part of the County of Norrbotten has been of special interest since landform systems of different age occur in the region. This article focuses on Veiki moraine, a type of hummocky moraine of pre-Late Weichselian age. Veiki moraine has a distinct distribution pattern, showing the ice margin of a decaying pre-Late Weichselian ice. A sediment core from within a Veiki moraine plateau at Rissejauratj was studied by means of pollen analysis. The pollen assemblages at Rissejauratj are dominated by Betula pollen and correlate with spectra from the warmest Weichselian interstadial periods recognised at other sites in northern Sweden. The Rissejauratj sequence can be correlated to either (1) the middle part of the first Weichselian interstadial (Tärendö I), (2) the early phase of the second Weichselian interstadial (Tärendö II), or (3) the late phase of the second Weichselian interstadial (Tärendö II). If alternative 3 is correct the ice sheet that formed the Veiki moraine was small and probably did not reach outside the eastern limit of Veiki moraine distribution.

Key Words:

• Veiki moraine
• Weichselian interstadial
• Tärendö
• pollen analysis
• northern Sweden