A revision of the British chronostratigraphy within the last glacial-interglacial cycle based on new evidence from Arclid, Cheshire UK

Of the 24 Greenland interstadials in Last Glacial-interglacial cycle (LGIC) only five are conventionally recognised Britain. This paper aims to improve understanding of LGIC Britain from a site at Arclid, Cheshire. Sediments were characterised and luminescence used establish chronology. found that Chelford Sand Formation spans 77-47 ka with sand deposited initially by aeolian but later fluvial transportation. Coleoptera Diptera basal peat lens provided reconstruction for heather-rich heathland environment grazed large herbivores, summer temperatures between 13 18 °C, winter ?14 1 °C. Flies included earliest records blood-sucking horsefly Haematopota pluvialis, soldierfly Chloromyia formosa. The overlying Stockport was fluvioglacially 47-41 upper Till formed advance last British icesheet after ?33 ka. Stenothermic beetle analysis Arclid indicate similarities results other mid sites, some which or beyond limit radiocarbon dating may be similar age Arclid. Basal organic sediments along reassigned sites proposed as new Interstadial. A revised chronostratigraphy has Wretton, Brimpton Interstadials previously suggested not widely Cassington Interstadial occurred these, prior Upton Warren complex. closes previous gap complex within chronostratigraphy.