Holocene Tephrochronology in the Eastern Foot-hills of the Towada Volcano, Northeastern Honshu, Japan

Abstract

The Quaternary tephra ejected from the Towada Volcano is widely distributed in its eastern foot-hills. The tephra layers can be classified into four major stratigraphic units; they are, in ascending order, Tengutai Ash, Takadate Ash, Hachinohe Ash, and the Holocene ash alyers. The present paper dealt with the stratigraphy and chronology of the Holocene ash layers. Special reference was made to the archaeological evidences in the absolute chronology of the tephra layers based on the radiocarbon dates. The results are summarized as follows: