Radiocarbon evidence for deglaciation in north-western Himalaya, India

Abstract

SINCE the publication of the first post-glacial pollen diagram from Toshmaidan (74°31′E, 33°56′N, ∼ 3,120 m OD) in the Kashmir Valley by one of the authors¹, the age of the pollen sequence has been a bone of contention^2–4. The organic deposits overlie a sequence of bluish-grey buttery clay and crushed rock, and were suggested¹ to date from the last deglaciation. The pollen sequence was divided into eight stages, and showed a cold–warm–cold climatic sequence, which was similar to previous findings on postglacial climate⁵. Here we present radiocarbon dates on these deposits, and these confirm our previous work.