A terrestrial record of climate variation during MIS 11 through multi-proxy palaeotemperature reconstructions from Hoxne, UK

Horne, D. J. et al. (2023) A terrestrial record of climate variation during MIS 11 through multi-proxy palaeotemperature reconstructions from Hoxne, UK. Quaternary Research, 111, pp. 21-52. (doi: 10.1017/qua.2022.20)

Abstract

A terrestrial (lacustrine and fluvial) palaeoclimate record from Hoxne (Suffolk, UK) shows two temperate phases separated by a cold episode, correlated with MIS 11 subdivisions corresponding to isotopic events 11.3 (Hoxnian interglacial period), 11.24 (Stratum C cold interval), and 11.23 (warm interval with evidence of human presence). A robust, reproducible multiproxy consensus approach validates and combines quantitative palaeotemperature reconstructions from three invertebrate groups (beetles, chironomids, and ostracods) and plant indicator taxa with qualitative implications of molluscs and small vertebrates. Compared with the present, interglacial mean monthly air temperatures were similar or up to 4.0°C higher in summer, but similar or as much as 3.0°C lower in winter; the Stratum C cold interval, following prolonged nondeposition or erosion of the lake bed, experienced summers 2.5°C cooler and winters between 5°C and 10°C cooler than at present. Possible reworking of fossils into Stratum C from underlying interglacial assemblages is taken into account. Oxygen and carbon isotopes from ostracod shells indicate evaporatively enriched lake water during Stratum C deposition. Comparative evaluation shows that proxy-based palaeoclimate reconstruction methods are best tested against each other and, if validated, can be used to generate more refined and robust results through multiproxy consensus.

• Item Type: Articles
• Additional Information: The data, interpretation and discussion presented herein began as a contribution to the Ancient Human Occupation of Britain project (funded by the Leverhulme Trust) and is completed as a contribution to the Pathways to Ancient Britain project (funded by the Calleva Foundation). The Hoxne Dating Project (HDP) was funded by AHOB.
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Whitehouse, Professor Nicki
• Authors: Horne, D. J., Ashton, N., Benardout, G., Brooks, S. J., Coope, G. R., Holmes, J. A., Lewis, S. G., Parfitt, S. A., White, T. S., Whitehouse, N. J., and Whittaker, J. E.
• College/School: College of Arts & Humanities > School of Humanities > Archaeology
• Journal Name: Quaternary Research
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press
• ISSN: 0033-5894
• ISSN (Online): 1096-0287
• Published Online: 11 July 2022
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © 2022 University of Washington. Published by Cambridge University Press
• First Published: First published in Quaternary Research 111: 21-52
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced in accordance with the publisher copyright policy