The Quaternary of the River Trent: critical evidence for glaciation, river development and land uplift within and close to the limits of lowland glaciation in north Midland England

This Context Paper examines the findings of the Trent Valley Palaeolithic Project (TVPP) which have been published over the period 2010–2015 as a substantial book and a number of research and review papers. The findings of this project are significant for: (i) the glacial history of lowland England, with a case being made for a MIS 8 glaciation; (ii) understanding the history of the drainage of the region with identification of change from the pre-glacial Ancaster and Bytham rivers to the newly formed River Trent, which developed across the landscape glaciated during MIS 12 and (iii) presenting a case for the importance of ice-, water- and rock-loading and unloading upon the development of river systems over late Middle and Late Quaternary time. These three topics are placed in a wider context with respect to regional patterns of glacial and Quaternary history of Britain and northern Europe and some concepts underpinning the subjects.