TEPHROSTRATIGRAPHY OF THE LAST 160 ka IN WESTERN LIMAGNE (FRANCE)

The GEOCLER 1 core extracted from the Clermont crater lake sediments and surface studies made at several localities north of Clermont provided numerous stratigraphic, environmental and chronological data (TL and radiocarbon) which allow us to present a chronostratigraphy of the Limagne for the past 160 ka. 118 ash-falls have been recorded in the crater-lake sediments of the Clermont maar. They demonstrate that a basaltic phreatic activity developed along the western fault-scarp of the Limagne between 160 and 70 ka, after which began the Chaine des Puys activity. Moreover, several acid eruptions occured between 160 and 40 ka. From Older Dryas to Atlantic, between 15 and 7 ka, fourteen ash-falls occured and in some cases the source volcanoes have been identified. These include Puy de La Nugere, Puy de Dome, Puy Chopine, Kilian Crater and Puy de Pariou which contribute mainly to the local tephra succession. Prospects for further prehistoric research in volcanic areas are outlined.