<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><p> The fluvial sediments at Cueva Antón, a Middle Palaeolithic rock shelter located in the valley of the River Mula (Southeast Spain), produced abundant lithic assemblages of Mousterian affinities. Radiocarbon dates are available for the upper part of the archaeological succession, while for the middle to lower parts chronometric data have been missing. Here we present luminescence dating results for these parts of the succession. Quartz OSL on small aliquots and single grain measurements yield ages ranging from 69 ± 7 ka to 82 ± 8 ka with a weighted mean of 72 ± 4 ka for sub-complexes AS2 to AS5. Equivalent dose estimates from large aliquots were highest and inconsistent with those from single grains and small multiple grain aliquots. This is probably caused by the presence of over-saturating grains, which have been quantified by single grain measurements. Additional post-IR IRSL measurements on coarse grained feldspar give strong support to a well-bleached quartz OSL signal. While independent chronometric control is missing, the results are within the expected age range and support the notion of a rapid accumulation of the fluvial deposits. </p></abstract>

The fluvial sediments at Cueva Antón, a Middle Palaeolithic rock shelter located in the valley of the River Mula (Southeast Spain), produced abundant lithic assemblages of Mousterian affinities. Radiocarbon dates are available for the upper part of the archaeological succession, while for the middle to lower parts chronometric data have been missing. Here we present luminescence dating results for these parts of the succession. Quartz OSL on small aliquots and single grain measurements yield ages ranging from 69 ± 7 ka to 82 ± 8 ka with a weighted mean of 72 ± 4 ka for sub-complexes AS2 to AS5. Equivalent dose estimates from large aliquots were highest and inconsistent with those from single grains and small multiple grain aliquots. This is probably caused by the presence of over-saturating grains, which have been quantified by single grain measurements. Additional post-IR IRSL measurements on coarse grained feldspar give strong support to a well-bleached quartz OSL signal. While independent chronometric control is missing, the results are within the expected age range and support the notion of a rapid accumulation of the fluvial deposits.

Luminescence Dating of Fluvial Deposits in the Rock Shelter of Cueva Antón, Spain

University of Cologne, Institute of Geography, Albertus-Magnus-Platz, 50923 Cologne, Germany

Neanderthal Museum, Talstraße 300, 40822 Mettmann, Germany

University of Cologne, Institute of Prehistoric Archaeology, Albertus-Magnus-Platz, 50923 Cologne, Germany

Dipartimento di Lettere e Filosofia, Università degli Studi di Trento, via Tommaso Gar 14, 38122 Trento, Italy

Departament de Prehistòria i d'Arqueologia, Universitat de València, Av. Blasco Ibañez 28, 46010 València, Spain

Área de Antropología Física, Facultad de Biología, Universidad de Murcia, Campus Universitario de Espinardo, 30100 Murcia, Spain

Seminari d’Estudis i Recerques Prehistòriques, Departament de Prehistòria, Història Antiga i Arqueologia, Facultat de Geografia i Història, Universitat de Barcelona/ICREA, Spain

Geochronometria

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

The fluvial sediments at Cueva Antón, a Middle Palaeolithic rock shelter located in the valley of the River Mula (Southeast Spain), produced abundant lithic...

Luminescence Dating of Fluvial Deposits in the Rock Shelter of Cueva Antón, Spain

Publié en ligne: 11 juil. 2015

Pages: -

Reçu: 05 mars 2014

Accepté: 06 janv. 2015

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/geochr-2015-0010

Mots clés
Cueva Antón, Middle Palaeolithic, Luminescence dating, fluvial sediment, single grain dating, post-IR IRSL

© 2015

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Luminescence Dating of Fluvial Deposits in the Rock Shelter of Cueva Antón, Spain

Publié en ligne: 11 juil. 2015

Pages: -

Reçu: 05 mars 2014

Accepté: 06 janv. 2015

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/geochr-2015-0010

Mots clésCueva Antón, Middle Palaeolithic, Luminescence dating, fluvial sediment, single grain dating, post-IR IRSL

© 2015

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Mots clés
Cueva Antón, Middle Palaeolithic, Luminescence dating, fluvial sediment, single grain dating, post-IR IRSL