A comprehensive pollen- and tephra-based chronostratigraphic model for the Late Glacial and Holocene period in the French Massif Central

This paper discusses about 250 conventional ¹⁴C ages obtained on peat and gyttja samples that apply to pollen features or tephra beds in the Massif Central region of France. A method to estimate the migration periods of eight Late Glacial to Holocene pollen features typical of the Massif Central is described. A review of all ¹⁴C ages pertaining to tephras of this region enabled the most appropriate age, or age range, of the tephras to be estimated. The chronostratigraphic relationships between pollen features and tephras are discussed and a new comprehensive stratigraphic model is presented. The model shows that pollen features are diachronous and should not be used therefore as proxy stratigraphic markers.