A COMPREHENSIVE POLLEN-BASED AND TEPHRA-BASED CHRONOSTRATIGRAPHIC MODEL FOR THE LATE-GLACIAL AND HOLOCENE PERIOD IN THE FRENCH MASSIF-CENTRAL

This paper discusses about 250 conventional C-14 ages obtained on peat and gyttja samples that apply to pollen features or tephra beds in th e Massif Central region of France. A method to estimate the migration periods of eight Late Glacial to Holocene pollen features typical of t he Massif Central is described. A review of all C-14 ages pertaining t o tephras of this region enabled the most appropriate age, or age rang e, of the tephras to be estimated. The chronostratigraphic relationshi ps between pollen features and tephras are discussed and a new compreh ensive stratigraphic model is presented. The model shows that pollen f eatures are diachronous and should not be used therefore as proxy stra tigraphic markers. Copyright (C) 1996 INQUA/Elsevier Science Ltd