FORAMINIFERAL STRATIGRAPHY OF RAISED MARINE DEPOSITS, REPRESENTING ISOTOPE STAGE-5, PRINS-KARLS-FORLAND, WESTERN SVALBARD

Two raised marine sequences from Prins Karls Forland, western Svalbard , interpreted to have been deposited during part of isotope substage S e (Eemian) and substage 5a, were studied for foraminifera content. Tim e constraints are given by C-14 ages, infrared stimulated luminescence age estimates and amino acid ratios in subfossil marine molluscs. A d iamicton (unit B) separates the two marine sequences and reflects an a dvancement of local glaciers sometime late in isotope stage 5. The two marine sequences contain diverse benthic foraminiferal faunas, indica ting periods of a relatively warm and seasonally ice-free marine shelf environment. Compared to the lowermost sequence (unit A), the upper m arine sequence (unit C) seems to reflect a more shallow environment th at could have resulted from the global lowering of the sea level towar ds the end of isotope stage 5. Our results further emphasis the proble m of biostratigraphic distinction between interglacial and interstadia l deposits at high latitudes, with temperature conditions for substage ja close to those of substage 5e and present conditions.