Campbell, S., Scourse, J.D., Hunt, C.O., Keen, D.H. & Stephens, N. 1998. Quaternary of South-West England. Geological Conservation Review Series No. 14, JNCC, Peterborough, ISBN 0 412 78930 2.

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(B) Colluvial and fan-gravel sites in Mendip and adjacent areas

This section documents sites which preserve evidence for terrestrial sedimentation patterns, mostly during cold stages, and palaeosol development, during temperate interstadial and interglacial conditions. The sites are chosen as prime examples of a variety of depositional settings and, where possible, because palaeobiological and dating evidence is available. Late Middle Pleistocene slope deposits, palaeosols and terrestrial mollusc faunas are located under the Swallow Cliff raised beach at Middle Hope. The Brean Member, an extensive Late Devensian sequence of rockfall breccias, aeolian sands, silts and palaeosols, spanning Oxygen Isotope Stages 4–2, is preserved at Brean Down. This sequence contains important fossil mammal and mollusc faunas. Alluvial fan gravels containing fossil molluscs and pollen, dating from the coldest part of the Devensian, are represented by the Wookey Station Member at Wookey Station. Older fan gravels, heavily affected by pedogenesis and overlain by aeolian sediments, can be demonstrated at Bourne.

Middle Hope

Brean Down

Bourne

Wookey Station

References