Lake sediment stratigraphy, radiocarbon chronology, geochemically characterized tephra and mineralogy reveal ice-free conditions on coastal Spitsbergen during Last Glacial

Three bryophyte-derived 14C ages reveal that the targeted sequences was deposited between 30 and 20 ka BP - indicating ice-free and vegetated conditions during the Last Glacial Maximum. We also fingerprint a new volcanic ash (tephra) marker, whose distinct shard maximum and homogeneous geochemistry suggest direct deposition by air fall, as well as an Azorean provenance.

We also present X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) mineralogical data from the presented sediments to allay concerns about the impact of old carbon on the presented radiocarbon ages.