Quaternary research in Britain and Ireland : a history based on the activities of the subdepartment of quaternary research, University of Cambridge, 1948-1994

Preface ; The contribution of Clement Reid (1853-1916) to the foundation of Quaternary research; From the early 1900s to 1929; Scandinavia and Britain: two regions, two histories; Developments in Scandinavia; Developments in Britain; Pollen analysis in Britain; The early 1930s; Progress on the Continent; The post-Congress period; Research Committees of the early 1930s; The Fenland Research Committee; Progress in Cambridge; The beginnings; Fenland investigations; Extension of Fenland research; Basic principles ; The expansion of research in Britain; Developments in research to the 1950s.
Periglacial phenomenaPalaeopedology; Geology and archaeology; Dating; Aspects of the biology; Developing interest; Palaeoecology and ecology; Pollen analysis; Treatment of data; Macroscopic plant remains; Faunas; Interpretations; Analogues; Processes; The Quaternary community; Quaternary associations, especially the Quaternary Research Association; Quaternary research centres; Research support; Journals; Envoi; References; Appendix A; Graduate students, Sub-department of Quaternary Research; M. Phil. in Quaternary Research; Other graduate students noted in Annual Reports; Appendix B.
Publication of datesLaboratory history; Research activities; Research: mass spectrometry, palaeotemperatures and deep sea sediments ; Establishment of the laboratory; Development ; Subsequent research areas ; Research; TL and ESR dating, palaeomagnetism, dendrochronology and dendroclimatology; Thermoluminescence; ESR dating ; Palaeomagnetism ; Dendrochronology, dendroclimatology; Dissolution, achievements, reflections; Dissolution ; Achievements ; Reflections ; References; A wider view ; Introduction; Aspects of the geology; Stratigraphy: the search for a system; Sediments and structures.
Research: vegetational history, including palaeoecology and palaeolimnologyVegetational history: Devensian late-glacial and Flandrian; Research: vegetational history of pre-Flandrian temperate stages and cold stages ; Pre-Flandrian temperate stages; Cold stages; Research: geology ; Coring and sediment recognition; Quaternary stratigraphy; Contributions to geology, glacial and fluviatile; Glacial limits; Regional studies; Periglacial phenomena; Changes of relative land/sea level ; Overseas research; Research: faunas and archaeology; Faunas ; Archaeology ; Research: radiocarbon dating.
The Devensian late-glacialMan's influence on vegetation history; Interglacials; Establishment of the Sub-department of Quaternary Research; A proposal in 1938; Re-iteration of the proposal in 1943; The General Board's proposal; References; The Subdepartment of Quaternary Research; Introduction; Organisation and people; Organisation; Laboratories; Academic staff; Assistant Staff; Post-Graduate students; Teaching, reference collections, databases, research; Teaching; Colloquia; Reference collections; Databases; Research.
During the later part of the last century there was rapid development of the study and understanding of the changing environments of the last 2 million years. This came to provide a firm background for today's knowledge of the significance and importance of climatic change. Interdisciplinary research has been a prominent, if not essential, contributor to the successes achieved. In illustration of this connection, this volume describes here such developments in the University of Cambridge. In 1948 the University established a Subdepartment of Quaternary Research, with teaching and research acti.