Afton Lodge
Also within
Condition (NatureScot)
| Unit | Feature | Condition | Area (ha) | Assessed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| F1 | Quaternary of Scotland | Favourable | — | 2007-02-12 |
Geology & landscape
Geological Period: Quaternary
Description
AFTON LODGE Afton Lodge, lying 2 km south-west of Tarbolton, is an important Quaternary site representing the “high-level shellbeds” of Ayrshire. These fossiliferous marine sediments, which occur at around 85m above present sea level, have generated considerable scientific interest concerning their age, origin and possible relationships with several other contentious shelly deposits in Scotland. It is unclear whether they occur in situ and reflect a former high stand in seal level or were transported onshore from the bed of the sea to their present position by ice. The locality is of considerable interest in demonstrating both the stratigraphy and sedimentology of the deposits and their fossil shell and microfauna contents. It is a site with considerable research potential for elucidating a long-standing problem in Scottish Quaternary studies, one that has significant bearing on interpretations of former sea levels.