RELICT CORAL-REEF AND EVIDENCE OF PRE-HOLOCENE SEA-LEVEL STAND OFF MAHABALIPURAM, BAY-OF-BENGAL

A relict coral reef on the outer continental shelf off Mahabalipuram a t -115m depth yielded a radiocarbon (C-14) age of 14510 +/- 190 yrs BP . A terrace at -130m depth probably indicates the lowest sea level pos ition during the late Pleistocene, It is inferred that the sea level r ose at the rate of 5.71 m/kyr during the early stage of post-glacial t ransgression between 18,000 and 14,500 yrs BP.