Philip L. Gibbard

The Last Interglacial (Eemian, Mikulino, Marine Isotope Substage (MIS) 5e: c. 131–115 ka) represents the most extensively studied Quaternary interglacial beyond the Holocene. This is a reflection not only of its stratigraphical position, making it the most immediately accessible period, but also its climatic signature of warmer conditions than during the Holocene. Its importance therefore cannot be overstated because it provides a potential analogue for future climatic scenarios.

The detailed chronostratigraphy of the Saalian Stage sensu lato (Marine Isotope Stage: MIS 11b-6) in Europe is far from being clarified and with the exception of the Late Saalian glaciation (MIS 6), there are in fact two separate schemes. One is for the northern, glaciated part of the continent, which is full of stratigraphical hiatuses that make interregional correlation difficult.

Glaciation during the Pleistocene is known to have occurred throughout most of Britain, north of a line linking London to Bristol. However, the varied geology, tectonic setting, relief, glacial/periglacial regimes and fluvial rejuvenation have resulted in great variation in the preserved evidence (Hughes et al. 2022).