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Journal of the Geological Society; 1999; v. 156; issue.2; p. 357-368;
DOI: 10.1144/gsjgs.156.2.0357
© 1999 Geological Society of London

Article

Holocene landscape evolution of the Manga Grasslands, NE Nigeria: evidence from palaeolimnology and dune chronology

J. A. HOLMES1, F. A. STREET-PERROTT2, R. A. PERROTT2, S. STOKES3, M. P. WALLER1, Y. HUANG4, G. EGLINTON5 & M. IVANOVICH6,*

1 School of Geography, Kingston University, Penrhyn Road, Kingston upon Thames, Surrey KT1 2EE, UK (e-mail: j.holmes{at}kingston.ac.uk)
2 Department of Geography, University of Wales Swansea, Singleton Park, Swansea SA2 8PP, UK
3 Luminescence Research Group, School of Geography, University of Oxford, Mansfield Road, Oxford 0X1 3 TB, UK
4 Department of Geosciences, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA
5 Biogeochemistry Research Centre, Department of Geology, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1RJ, UK
6 Enterpris Ltd, University of Reading, Whiteknights, Reading RG6 6BX, UK

This paper presents a synthesis of results from investigations into palaeolimnology and dune chronology in the Manga Grasslands and adjacent areas of NE Nigeria, in order to reconstruct the evolution of this semi-arid landscape since the late glacial. A marked wet phase gave way to a fall in lake levels during the late glacial. Dune emplacement was active at this time to the south of the Manga Grasslands, but seems to have been absent from the grasslands themselves. Wet conditions prevailed during much of the early to mid-Holocene, accompanied by periods of significant barchanoid dune reactivation. A marked deterioration in climate and vegetation commenced around 4.1 ka BP, leading to the formation of the present-day semi-arid landscape. The data suggest that there have been major changes in humidity in this part of Subsaharan West Africa during the late glacial to Holocene and that the relationship between changes in precipitation and aeolian activity is complex.

Key Words: Holocene • Sahel • Nigeria • palaeolimnology • dunes • optical dating




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