Palynology of the 112.8–197.8 m interval of the core Tenaghi Philippon III, Middle Pleistocene of Macedonia

In this article the palynological record of the Tenaghi Philippon III core (112.8–197.8 m) from the Philippi Plain in Greece is discussed. The arboreal pollen diagrams show an alteration of steppe phases (representing glacial periods) and oak forest phases (coinciding with interglacial periods). A proposal for a local biostratigraphy is given and a preliminary correlation is suggested with the Northwest European subdivision of the Middle Pleistocene. From the AP diagrams it appears that the flora is gradually impoverished in Arcto-Tertiary elements and obtains a more mediterranean character. In this section, however, the real mediterranean forest, rich in Quercus ilex/coccifera type is not yet present, which implies that a warm humid climate dominated with rainfall throughout the year. The presence of a great number of Tertiary pollen, two sterile intervals and clastic sediment in the lower part of the core, while from 181.6 m upwards organic sediment is found, indicates a change in sedimentation regime around a depth of 182 m. The sedimentation regime changed from fluvatile to lacustrine as a result of the aftermath of tectonic events. Chronostratigraphy of the diagrams is based on radiocarbon dates from the TF2 core, paleomagnetic polarity determinations in the TF3 core as well as interpolations between the two. In this way the core was dated at 900,000-approx. 600,000 yr B.P. A correlation with deep-sea Core V28–239 is proposed. From this correlation it appears that both in the diagrams and in the oxygen isotope curve the glacial and interglacial periods of the Middle Pleistocene are of a different wavelength and amplitude as compared to the ones of the Upper Pleistocene.