Abstract
Two new 14C dates from a bed of compact inter-tidal peat at Mill Strand, Portrush, are reported and discussed in relation to two previously obtained ages from peat at Dhu Varren, a short distance inland. The date from the top of the Mill Strand peat is statistically inseparable from that of the peat top at Dhu Varren. Together these dates indicate the cessation of peat growth occurred ~6950-6550 cal. BP as a result of sand deposition associated with sea-level rise. However, dated samples from deeper within the respective stratigraphies are not compatible. Their respective ages in relation to their elevations pose a problem of interpretation.
Acknowledgements
We thank the Northern Ireland Environment Agency for providing funding for the two most recently acquired 14C dates and Metoc Plc/Glover Site Investigations for access to the core and the borehole data. Thanks are also due to Robin Edwards for assistance with core sampling. Michael Dempster was a member of the Northern Ireland Environment Agency at the time this work was undertaken.