Certain characteristic periodicities in the Delta C-14 record from tree rin
gs, such as the well-known 11-yr Schwabe cycle, are known to be of solar or
igin. The origin of longer-period cycles, such as the 205-yr de Vries cycle
, in the Delta C-14 record was less certain, and it was possible to attribu
te it either to solar or climatic variability. Here, we demonstrate that th
e de Vries cycle is present in Be-10 data from the GRIP ice core during the
last ice age (25 to 50 kyr BP). Analysis of the amplitude of variation of
this cycle shows it to be modulated by the geomagnetic field, indicating th
at the de Vries cycle is indeed of solar, rather than climatic, origin.