A uranium-thorium dated late Eemian or early midlandian organic deposit from near Kilfenora between Spa and Fenit, Co. Kerry, Ireland

This paper discusses the dating of stratigraphically important Quaternary sequences from a site near Fenit, Co. Kerry, which have been the subject of debate since they were first described by Mitchell in 1970. The overall stratigraphy of the Quaternary deposits have been investigated and detailed analyses of the organic material carried out. Pollen from biogenic sediments have been analysed and samples of peat dated using the uranium-thorium disequilibrium method. The pollen assemblages match no others previously recorded in Ireland and appear to represent a cool temperate phase following the last interglacial. The uranium-thorium dates of between 114000 and 123000 yr BP indicate that the deposit dates from Oxygen Isotope Stage 5, possibly post-dating the last temperate stage (the Eemian Stage interglacial; Oxygen Isotope Substage 5e). The dating of this deposit and the realisation that it is not penultimate temperate stage (Gortian) in age invalidates much recent speculation on the age of the Gortian interglacial.