Wolstonian Stage


The Wolstonian Stage is a middle Pleistocene stage of the geological history of Earth from approximately 374,000 until 130,000 years ago. It precedes the Last Interglacial and follows the Hoxnian Stage in the British Isles.
It is also approximately analogous to the Warthe and Saalian stages in northern Europe; the Riss glaciation in the Alps; and the Illinoian Stage in North America. The colder last part from around 194,000 years ago is called the Penultimate [Glacial Period].
It is equivalent to Marine isotope stages 10 through 6. MIS 10, 8 and 6 were glacial periods and 9 and 7 were interglacials.
It is named after Wolston in the English county of Warwickshire.

Description

The Wolstonian Stage is a middle Pleistocene stage of the geological history of Earth that precedes the Ipswichian Stage and follows the Hoxnian Stage in the British Isles. The Wolstonian Stage apparently includes three periods of glaciation. The Wolstonian Stage is temporally analogous to the Warthe Stage and Saalian Stage in northern Europe and the Riss glaciation in the Alps, and temporally equivalent to all of the Illinoian Stage and the youngest part of the Pre-Illinoian Stage in North America. It is contemporaneous with the North American Pre-Illinoian A, Early Illinoian, and Late Illinoian glaciations.
The Wolstonian Stage is equivalent to Marine isotope stages 6 through 10.
Britain became an Island during this period.
It started 374,000 years ago and ended 130,000 years ago.

Etymology

The Wolstonian Stage was named after the site of Wolston in the English county of Warwickshire where corresponding deposits were first identified.

Archaeology

flint tools have been found in Wolstonian deposits.

Pleistocene glaciation

RegionGlacial 1Glacial 2Glacial 3Glacial 4
AlpsGünzMindelRissWürm
North EuropeEburonianElsterianSaalianWeichselian
British IslesBeestonianAnglianWolstonianDevensian
Midwest U.S.NebraskanKansanIllinoianWisconsinan

RegionInterglacial 1Interglacial 2Interglacial 3
AlpsGünz-MindelMindel-RissRiss-Würm
North EuropeWaalianHolsteinianEemian
British IslesCromerianHoxnianIpswichian
Midwest U.S.AftonianYarmouthianSangamonian