Litho- and biostratigraphy of sediment cores from three peatbogs situated at the head of the Hardangerfjord, western Norway, have been investigated with respect to late glacial relative sea-level changes. The palaeoenvironmental record, with emphasis on the diatom stratigraphy, reveals a late glacial marine transgression. Based on age and amplitude estimates, the transgression is closely identified with the Late Weichselian (Younger Dryas) transgression, which previously has only been documented at the outer coast of western Norway. The highest late glacial shorelines (marine limit) both at the head of the Hardangerfjord and at the outer coast of western Norway probably developed during the transgression maximum, suggesting a similar age of the inland and coastal late glacial marine limits. In order to accommodate the recorded sea-level changes in inner Hardanger with the established sea-level history of coastal areas, an earlier deglaciation of the Hardangerfjord than hitherto believed is proposed.

S. K. Helle & H. Haflidason, Department of Geology;
S. Aasheim, Botanical Institute, University of Bergen, Allegt. 41, N-5007 Bergen, Norway.