A BRIEF OUTLINE OF THE QUATERNARY OF LITHUANIA AND THE HISTORY OF ITS INVESTIGATION

Abstract

The reconstruction of the Late Weichselian glacial limits is based on geomorphological evidence combined with geological data. The maximum extension of the Last Glaciation has been established in Southeastern Lithuania. The outermost Late Nemunas glaciation boundary has been traced to the foot of the Medininkai Highland. In general, it corresponds to the boundary between different glacial landscape types. The precise position of the Last Glacial Maximum is unknown. The late Nemunas ice advance is considered to comprise two parts, the Grūda Stadial and the Baltija Stadial. However, they can only be distinguished using lithostratigraphic criteria. There are several marginal morainic complexes north-west of the Baltija Highland, which may indicate three or even four additional ice front phases of the retreating Pomeranian ice sheet. These limits have been traced on the basis of various geomorphological criteria. As phase limits, mostly have been interpreted ice-marginal moraine ridges. In Lithuania, there are no dates available for these stillstands represented in recent correlation schemes. No sites with late Nemunas interphase deposits have been discovered in Lithuania.