Corrigendum: Pleistocene Rhine–Thames landscapes: geological background for hominin occupation of the southern North Sea region

This paper links research questions in Quaternary geology with those in Palaeolithic archaeology. A detailed geological reconstruction of The Netherlands' south-west offshore area provides a stratigraphical context for archaeological and palaeontological finds. Progressive environmental developments have left a strong imprint on the area’s Palaeolithic record. We highlight aspects of landscape evolution and related taphonomical changes, visualized in maps for critical periods of the Pleistocene in the wider southern North Sea region. The Middle Pleistocene record is divided into two palaeogeographical stages: the pre-Anglian/Elsterian stage, during which a wide land bridge existed between England and Belgium even during marine highstands; and the Anglian/Elsterian to Saalian interglacial, with a narrower land bridge, lowered by proglacial erosion but not yet fully eroded. The Late Pleistocene landscape was very different, with the land bridge fully dissected by an axial Rhine–Thames valley, eroded deep enough to fully connect the English Channel and the North Sea during periods of highstand. This tripartite staging implies great differences in (i) possible migration routes of herds of herbivores as well as hominins preying upon them, (ii) the erosion base of axial and tributary rivers causing an increase in the availability of flint raw materials and (iii) conditions for loess accumulation in northern France and Belgium and the resulting preservation of Middle Palaeolithic sites

Quaternay geological landscape evolution across borders: linking the Scheldt to Rhine-Thames Land

This poster presents paleogeographical scenario maps for the southwestern North Sea Basin, where onshore and offshore territories of Belgium, The Netherlands, France and England meet. Originally prepared and published as a backdrop for paleolithical geoarcheological research (Hijma et al. 2012; JQS), we are now expanding this with fieldwork in NW Belgium. NW Belgium is a key area to resolve current debates on the timing and rates of erosion and landscape change in this area over multiple glacial-interglacial cycles. With the Thames Estuary, it shares a history of drastic river valley network reconfigurations between successive glacials in the youngest 500,000 years. With the SW Netherlands it shares the sea level rise history in Eemian and Holocene. With NW France and SE England, it shares the river incision history that accelerates and changes in position with the opening of the Strait of Dover in the last 500,000 years. What are regionally separated issues in surrounding countries, comes together and superimposes in the Belgian Quaternary record. Our fieldwork aims at logging and sampling for a long-term landscape erosion studies, progressively over multiple glacial-interglacial cycles, and for generic regional quaternary geological mapping and dating

Limbricht Bufferbassin Limbrichterbeek : inventariserend archeologisch veldonderzoek, karterende fase

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Waalwijk, Valkenvoortweg : inventariserend archeologisch veldonderzoek : karterende fase

Lit.opg

Nieuw-Haamstede Kamperfoelieweg : inventariserend archeologisch veldonderzoek : karterende fase

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Limbricht, bufferbassin Limbrichterbeek : inventariserend archeologisch veldonderzoek : karterende fase

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Melderslo, Vlasvenstraat : inventariserend archeologisch veldonderzoek : karterende fase

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Astense Aa, corridor Haamakkers : inventariserend archeologisch veldonderzoek : karterende fase

Lit.opg. en begrippenlijst

Nieuw-Haamstede Kamperfoelieweg : inventariserend archeologisch veldonderzoek : karterende fase

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Oud Gastel, Bolbaan : inventariserend archeologisch veldonderzoek : karterende fase

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