U-series dating of Hoxnian interglacial deposits at Marks Tey, Essex, England

A U-Th dating study was carried out on the authigenic carbonate component o f interglacial lake sediments at Marks Tey, Essex, England. Isochron method s were necessary because of the presence of non-carbonate detritus. Calcula ted dates around the limit of the U-Th method were obtained for two horizon s. Error limits were determined by Monte Carlo sampling from the normal dis tributions of errors in the isotope ratios. Comparison of the resulting emp irical distribution functions with the marine oxygen isotope time-scale ind icates with 87% confidence that the Marks Tey sediments correlate with OIS 11 or some older stage. As the Marks Tey deposits rest without stratigraphi cal break on Anglian till, and can be firmly correlated with the Hoxnian in terglacial type site at Hoxne, Suffolk, England, this result implies that t he Anglian glaciation took place in OIS 12 acid the Hoxnian Stage of the Br itish chronostratigraphy commenced in OIS 11. Copyright (C) 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.