Heavy deposition at the foot of a cliff may create an apron of gently
sloping material, which actually protects the older, steeper cliff face
from marine erosion, although weathering may continue, particularly
on the upper slopes. Cliffs protected in this way (L) are often known
as inactive or dead cliffs, distinguishing them from cliffs that are subject
to marine erosion. Deposition from slope failure and solifluction
from the Pleistocene ice ages are two ways in which the protective
lower slopes have formed; these gently sloping areas are known as
undercliffs. The cliffs at the head of Rhossili Bay on the Gower
Peninsula in South Wales are a good example of steep cliffs protected
by a solifluction terrace. Pleistocene deposits may, in some cases,
totally overlie old cliff faces and totally bury them, giving the modern
coastline a different profile. This type of cliff, known as a slope-overwall
cliff (M), results from solifluction materials covering old cliffs
and now being undercut by marine erosion; Dodman Point in
Cornwall is one of many cliffs areas in Britain formed in this way