THE BOTHKENNAR GRAVEL FORMATION (BURIED GRAVEL LAYER) OF THE FORTH ESTUARY

The Bothkennar Gravel Formation 'buried gravel layer', which is widesp read below the Flandrian carse clays (Claret Formation) of the Forth e stuary, is interpreted as having been formed chiefly by ice-rafting of sediment from the shore during the Loch Lomond Stadial (11-10 ka sp), and it is proposed that ice-rafting was an important agent of sedimen t transport and deposition around the Scottish coast at that time. The implications of this hypothesis for the history of sea-level change i n the Forth estuary are briefly discussed, and it is suggested that co nclusive evidence is lacking for sea levels below OD in the Grangemout h area during the Loch Lomond Stadial.