A geological section, 70 m long and 3–4 m high, cut into dead-ice moraine in front of Kötlujökull, has been described. Five-sediment associations were recognized representing (1) proglacial glacio-fluvial sedimentation, (2) deposition and deformation in ice-marginal environment, (3) subglacial deformation and deposition from dynamically active ice, (4) subglacial deposition from stagnant ice and (5) supraglacial re-deposition in dead-ice environment during de-icing. This complete sedimentary sequence represents a single glacier advance-stagnation cycle.

The melt-out till displays moderate consolidation, moderate content of fines and angular clasts, and a very strong clast fabric. The lodgement/deformation till displays strong to very strong consolidation, relatively high content of fines, low content of angular clasts, and a weak to strong clast fabric. The occurrence of water-escape structures below the basal till and complete lack of brittle deformations in the lodgement/deformation till suggest water-saturated subglacial conditions during the advance of Kötlujökull.