A radiocarbon dated post glacial pollen profile from Swampy Hill, Dunedin, New Zealand

Abstract

Study of a peat section 360 cm thick on Swampy Hill near the Otago east coast confirms the three-fold pollen zonation of Cranwell and von Post (1936). The basal Zone I contains mainly herbaceous plants, especially Coprosma, Zone II starts with a rapid rise of Podocarpus pollen, and Zone III with a rise of Dacrydium cupressinum. Radiocarbon dates for the base of the peat average 11,600 yr B.P. Despite conflicting dates, Zone II most probably began between 11,200 and 9,700 yr B.P., and Zone III began 6,000 yr ago. Near surface peat is over 3,000 yr old.