Sedimentology, palaeoecology and geochronology of Marine Isotope Stage 5 deposits on the Shetland Islands, Scotland

New stratigraphical, palynological and dating evidence is presented for pre‐Late Devensian/Weichselian sediments at Fugla Ness and Sel Ayre, Shetland. The Fugla Ness Peat rests on till and formed during an interglacial that saw the development of maritime heaths, with scattered trees and shrubs, including Pinus and possibly Ilex. A decline into stadial conditions is marked by overlying periglacial breccia and till. The Sel Ayre Organic Sands and Gravels lie between periglacial breccias and beneath till and appear to record a changing interstadial environment in which trees were absent and the vegetation comprised largely heaths, with Bruckenthalia, and grasslands. The Fugla Ness Peat is dated to 110+40/−35 ka by uranium series disequilibrium, suggesting that it formed during the Ipswichian/Eemian Interglacial (Marine Isotope Substage 5e). Luminescence ages of ca. 98–105 ka on intercalated sands within the Sel Ayre Organic Sands and Gravels place these deposits in Marine Isotope Substage 5c (Brørup Interstadial). The two sites provide the first detailed record of Marine Isotope Stage 5 environments on Shetland. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.