Marine sediments of the early Holocene in the Potter Península, King George Island, Southern Shetland, Antarctica.

Abstract

The early Holocene sedimentary succession exposed at the 3.77 m-high marine terrace on the south coast of Potter Cove (King George Island/Isla 25 de Mayo, South Shetland Islands, Antarctica) contains marine invertebrates, seaweed and bones of seals and penguins. Radiocarbon dating on penguin bones from this succession yielded 7,562 cal yr BP and 7,414 cal yr BP. These dates suggest that the bones are among the oldest remains of Holocene vertebrates found in South Shetland Islands, and may be considered as minimum ages of penguin occupation of coastal areas on the islands during the early Holocene. This indicates interglacial conditions in this time, with climate/sea ice situation similar to the present and seasonally open marine conditions.