The Position of the Ocean Level during the Interstadial at about 30 000 B.P.—A Discussion from a Climatic–Glaciologic Point of View

Abstract

Several 14C-dated marine shells (and exceptionally even estuarine peat) found at about the present sea level—just below to just above—in different regions of the world suggest a eustatic high stand at about 30 000 B.P.; however, this appears to be incorrect for two main reasons.1. From climatic–glaciologic point of view the interstadial at about 30 000 B.P. (Denekamp, Plum Point, etc.) must correspond to an ocean level far below the present (or roughly corresponding to the Late Glacial one at about 12 000 B.P.).2. Contamination of a sample containing dead or almost dead carbon by 1–5% modern carbon will give the sample an apparent age of 36 000–24 000 B.P.