Last British ice sheet | Forum — The Modern Antiquarian

Stonehenge and its Environs 134

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The bluestone debate

riverman Jun 21, 2006 13:50:15

Replying to Littlestone

I haven't had time to look through the threads to follow the discussion but if anyone's interested, some researchers at Sheffield have put together a fantastic map of the last British ice sheet - including the limits of transported erratics. Scroll down the link to find a pdf file of the southern UK map - there's no evidence of glaciers in the area.

http://www.shef.ac.uk/geography/staff/clark_chris/britice.html

Littlestone Jun 23, 2006 22:16:13

Replying to riverman

Thanks riverman. I've only now had time to study the link you supplied at http://www.shef.ac.uk/geography/staff/clark_chris/britice.html which shows the unglaciated areas of Wales and Southern England during the Devensian. But what about earlier glaciations? The sarsen erratics on Fyfield Down in Wiltshire are a result of earlier glacial action - could not the same be said for bluestones in southern England?

Sorry, playing Devil's advocate here, but can't afford to leave any stone unturned ;-)

mountainman Aug 1, 2008 20:14:03

Replying to riverman

There is indeed good evidence that glacier ice reached Somerset from the west. There are many studies in the literature. The ice came from the west. How far into Somerset is came is another question -- my preference is for a glacier edge somewhere near Glastonbury, but others think the glacier extended all the way to Salisbury plain. Have a look at this fantastic modelling reconstruction of the Last Glacial episode:

http://qra.org.uk/British_Irish_animation.wmv

Since it is now known that the ice reached the Scilly Isles around 20,000 years ago, all the laws of ice physics mean that it must also have transgressed well into SW England at the same time. Watch this space....