A revised high-resolution age–depth model for Żabieniec Mire, central Poland

Abstract

Radiocarbon dating is fundamental for establishing chronologies in palaeoenvironmental reconstructions, but the scarcity of well-preserved terrestrial plant macrofossils may necessitate the use of bulk organic fractions or other alternative materials. This study, focused on the Żabieniec Mire (central Poland), addresses the critical challenge of chronological consistency by comparing radiocarbon ages derived from multiple organic fractions and materials, aiming to refine the age-depth model for the period spanning approximately from 10 000 to 18 000 cal BP. A total of 41 radiocarbon dates from the Z-3 core were analyzed, supplemented by 48 additional measurements from targeted 1-cm layers. The age-depth relationships were modeled using three Bayesian software packages (OxCal, Bacon, and ChronoModel) to ensure robustness and independence from any single computational approach.

The comparative analysis of chemically isolated fractions (larger macroremains, humins, and humic acids) for two sets of layers generally demonstrated chronological consistency among all terrestrial-derived fractions, while also highlighting the limits of the achievable precision. Our findings underscore the influence of material selection and chemical pretreatment on radiocarbon dating outcomes and emphasize the importance of multi-material, multi-model approaches for high-precision palaeoenvironmental reconstructions, especially in palaeo-basins experiencing variable depositional regimes.

Age–depth models show patterns of organic and inorganic sedimentation rates consistent with INTIMATE stratigraphic boundaries. Increased rates coincide with the onset of GI-1d, GI-1b, the GI-1/GS-1 and GS-1/Holocene transitions, and the 11.4 ka event, indicating a synchronous response to Greenland climate changes.