PLANT MACROFOSSILS FROM TWO SECTIONS THROUGH RIVER VALLEY SEDIMENTS ON THE CHELMSFORD BY-PASS ESSEX.
Author(s): P Murphy
During the construction of this road in 1984-5 sections across parts of the main Chelmer valley and the valley the Sandon Brook were recorded and sampled for pollen, macrofossils and radiocarbon dating. The following results were obtained from macrofossil analysis: a) Chelmer Bridge section. Detritus muds filling an abandoned channel, dated to 1760-1250bc, produced macrofossil assemblages indicating cover of Alnus and subsequent development of open conditions. After 1250bc local vegetation was dominated by Urtica dioica and other weeds and wetland taxa. b) Sandon Culvert section. Similar detritus muds but with some sandy sediments indicating intermittent stream flow were dated to 180-1090ad. Macrofossils from trees (mostly Salix) were comparatively rare: conditions remained open locally throughout the period. Rich assemblages of seeds from wetland and aquatic taxa and weeds were retrieved. Remains of cereals were present in all samples, and a capsule of flax (Linum usitatiss- imum) was identified.
- Report Number:
- 120/1987
- Series:
- AML Reports (New Series)
- Pages:
- 13
- Keywords:
- Plant Remains Seed
