Repeated aeolian deflation during the Allerød/GI-1a-c in the coversand lowland of NW Belgium

•The Allerød (GI-1a-c) was sedimentologically less stable than generally assumed.•Multi-proxy analysis provides evidence of repeated intra-Allerød aeolian deflation.•Some aeolian events are linked with short but abrupt climatic oscillations.•Other events are connected to forest fires, or a combination of both.•This calls for a revision of the existing litho- and chronostratigraphic schemes.