Volume 46 (2019): Edition 1 (January 2019)

The paper presents the results of measurements the specific concentration of lead-210 for six peat profiles representing four peat bogs from two regions of Poland and the problem of creating age-depth models. For the construction of age-depth models, it is proposed to use mathematical functions, the best fit to the measured activity. The F-statistics were used as a measure of the match quality. The obtained models are visualized in two ways – showing the age calculated on the basis of direct measurements of activity and indicating points that are the results of the used approximation. Such visualization is important to clearly distinguish the places of the age-depth model that result from the measurements of activity from those places that are the result of the approximation used.

This paper proposes and tests the application of activity modelling for the cores shorter than the range of the lead method. The paper also outlines the limitations and potential dangers related to the interpretation of core dating results i) obtained by using the activity approximation resulting in the smoothing of the age-depth profile, and ii) for the cores of a length smaller than the depth of the presence of the unsupported lead.

Additionally, the proposed models were compared with the models obtained by using SIT, Mod-Age, OxCal, Clam, and Bacon programs.

The possible role of environmental change, especially sea level change, as a stimulus for the development of human residence and migration is poorly understood. We investigate this problem by showing a record of sea-level change and coastal transformation based on a sediment core (FN1 core) and a Neolithic site (Pingfengshan site) obtained from the Funing bay on the northeast coast of Fujian, China. The Funing bay coastal area represents a unique feature in China’s Neolithic cultures, comprising a silty beach dominated by quartz-rich sand and several important sites of Huangguashan cultural period.

Samples from FN1 core and Pingfengshan site were taken for grain size ananlyses and for optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) dating. The blue-light stimulated OSL signals were measured by the single aliquot regenerative dose (SAR) protocol to determine the ages of of the samples. Samples from FN1 core yield OSL ages ranging from 49.9 ka to 0.8 ka, providing the systematic geochronological evidence for the sea level change of Funing bay. The comparison of sea level change and Neolithic cultural periods presents a good relationship in coastal area of Fujian, China since about 7 ka before present. In detail, the cultural types of Keqiutou culture and Huangguashan culture all belong to coastal mountainous culture, of which flourishing periods corresponds to the higher sea level periods of mid-late Holocene. Tanshishan culture belongs to estuarine coastal culture, and most sites of this period correspond to a lower sea level located at lower altitudes.

This study presents the first zircon U-Pb LA-MC-ICP-MS ages and whole-rock Rb/Sr and Sm/Nd data from exotic blocks (Bugaj and Andrychów) from the Western Outer Carpathians (WOC) flysch. The CL images of the zircon crystals from both samples reveal typical magmatic textures characterized by a well-defined concentric and oscillatory growth zoning. A concordia age 580.1 ± 6.0 Ma of the zircons from the Bugaj sample is considered to represent the crystallization age of this granite. The zircon crystals from the Andrychów orthogneiss yield an age of 542 ± 21 Ma, interpreted as the uppermost Proterozoic, magmatic crystallization age of the granitoid protholith. The initial (at ca. 580 Ma) ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratios of the Bugaj granitoids (0.72997 and 0.72874) are highly radiogenic, pointing to the assimilation of an older, possibly strongly Rb enriched source to the Bugaj melt. The Nd isotope systematics (ε_Nd580 –1.4 and 0.4) also point to a significant contribution of such a distinct mantle source. On the basis of the sequence of magmatic events obtained from U-Pb zircon ages, we suggest that exotic mega blocks deposited to the WOC basins were related to the Brunovistulicum Terrane. They belong to the group of Vendian/Cambrian granitoids representing the latest, posttectonic expression of the Cadomian cycle.

In this paper, a fragile ecological area in the Western Tianshan National Nature Reserve of China was selected as the research region, and Picea schrenkiana, which is sensitive to climate change, was selected as the research object. The mean minimum temperature in the growing season of the previous year (May to September) was the main limiting factor for tree radial growth based on an analysis of the relationship between chronological series and climatic factors during 1959–2012 (r = –0.792, p < 0.05). Moreover, the relationship was stable, which showed that tree rings can be used as alternative materials for climate reconstruction. Therefore, the mean minimum temperature of the previous year in 1680–2012 was reconstructed, and the explained variance of the reconstruction equation was 62.7% (R²_adj = 62.0%, F = 85.8). The 31 dramatically altered years were found via characteristic year analyses, and extreme changes occurred most often under relatively warm conditions. The mean minimum temperature in the reconstruction shows a clear warming trend by the 11-year moving average of the reconstructive series since the 1950s (the temperature increase: 0.341°C/decade). The driving factors of the mean minimum temperature were influenced mainly by the interaction of solar activity and large-scale atmospheric–oceanic variability, especially the westerly circulations.

We estimated the eruption age of Kannabe volcano, located in southwestern Japan. Although the eruption age had been estimated using tephrochronology and K-Ar dating, the precision of its age determination left some room for improvement. The latest eruption age of Kannabe volcano is well constrained by wide spread tephras to ca. 7.2–30 ka. We applied paleomagnetic dating to a basaltic lava and optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) dating to a soil layer, which are associated with the Kannabe volcano. The soil layer above the Kannabe scoria was newly dated to be 21 ± 6 ka, as inferred from OSL dating. We also made paleomagnetic investigation to estimate the eruption age of the Kannabe basaltic lava. Paleomagnetic data of 23 rock samples from six locations in the Kannabe basaltic lava showed good mutual agreement. The average of remanent magnetizations yields declination of 0.3° and inclination of 65.9° with 95% confidence limit of 2.7°. This paleomagnetic direction with a relatively steep inclination is thought to be correlated with the paleomagnetic secular variation data of sediments in Lake Biwa at ca. 21.5 ka. Based on that information from multi-dating, we inferred that the Kannabe volcano erupted at ca. 22 ka. This result presents profound scientific implications for the precise age determination of young basaltic lava flow, for which few dating methods exist.

Loess areas used for agriculture are susceptible to soil erosion. The intensive process of soil erosion in Polish loess areas began with the onset of the Neolithic and has continued intermittently until today. This work presents the results of soil erosion from simultaneous use of the ¹³⁷Cs and ²¹⁰Pb_ex methods on an agricultural field located on loess slope. Moreover, to establish the age of accumulated sediment connected with water slope erosion, OSL dating, selected physicochemical and micromorphological analyses were applied.

The reference values of the ¹³⁷Cs and ²¹⁰Pb_ex fallout for the studied site (Biedrzykowice, the Proszowice Plateau, Małopolska Upland) equal 2627 (45% connected with Chernobyl) and 4835 Bq·m^–2, respectively. The results of the ¹³⁷Cs and ²¹⁰Pb_ex inventories measured for the agricultural field range from 730 to 7911 and from 1615 to 11136 Bq·m^–2, respectively. The mean soil erosion is about 2.1 kg·m^–2·a^–1 (about 1.4 mm·a^–1). The accumulation of the colluvial sediments started in the Neolithic and drastically increased in the Middle Ages. The examined gully catchment in Biedrzykowice has probably developed quite rapidly as a result of increased erosion. This resulted in the abandonment of this area as farmland and, consequently, in the minimization of water erosion on the slope due to the entrance of woody vegetation in this area. Erosion processes were highly intensified during the last 70 years as a result of deforestation after World War II and intensive agricultural reuse of this area after a break, as indicated by isotope measurements and dendrochronology.

Three quartz samples extracted from different origins were collected for ESR evaluation to appreciate the optical bleaching characteristics of the E₁’ centre in a long time scale. After exposure of about 400 hours to artificial sunlight, the E₁’ centre were bleached to a steady increasing level, about 2.5 times of its natural level, and the increase level also exhibit a small variability among different sample origins. The constant increasing level provide a significantly evidence for the potential use of the natural signal intensities of quartz E₁’ centre in tracing sediment provenance. The results show that the signal intensity of E₁’ centre increased within beginning 84 h and decreased after 202 h as previous researches have partly predicted. After long time exposed to sunlight, there is no correlation between irradiated samples’ dose rate and its E₁’ centre ESR signal intensity. Thus, no new convenient indication shed light on the possible use of the E₁’ centre for ESR sediment dating.

Recent research shows that the last interglacial climate was more unstable in comparison to Holocene. Lack of suitable dating techniques and precisely defined absolute age benchmarks is one from main problems for present LIG studies. Therefore many of LIG chronologies base on indirect dating techniques like record alignment strategies. In this context, speleothems are valuable paleoclimate archives because of their capability to be dated by U-series method. In Europe LIG speleothem records are known mostly from western and central part of the continent. In this paper we present a 1,650 mm long stalagmite (ocz-6) from Bulgarian Cave Orlova Chuka. The ocz-6 stalagmite records the period of time ca. 129–112 ka. Ocz-6 stalagmite was analyzed in terms of stable isotopic composition of calcite and trace elements content. All analyzed geochemical proxies point to dynamic changes in the environment during the Last Interglacial time. At the time of interglacial development (129–126.5 ka), ocz-6 records shows systematic change in proportion of moisture delivered from Atlantic source and other sources. The beginning of last interglacial optimum is connected with a rapid change to more humid and warm conditions. During interglacial demise local climate become more dependent from regional settings.

We used DosiVox to evaluate the impact of cement thickness on the dose effectively absorbed by the enamel layer. Until now, the thickness of the dental tissues adjacent to the enamel layer was not considered by any of the most widely used combined US-ESR dating programs (DATA and USESR). Instead, if adjacent tissues are present, their thickness is by default assumed to be sufficient to fulfill the infinite matrix conditions.

Our result suggest that such an assumption may represent in first instance a fair approximation of the reality, as even with a thickness of only 1 mm, the cement contributes to at least 98% of the beta dose rate coming from the outer side of the enamel layer. However, when cement is < 1 mm thick, DATA or USESR would overestimate the external beta dose rate and the value should be corrected accordingly by considering the relative contribution of the sediment. The impact of this correction on the total dose rate may vary, as it is directly dependent on the radioactivity of the cement itself, as well as of the sediment or dentine. Our results show that a very thin cement layer (0.1 mm-thick) can significantly contribute to the beta dose rate and should therefore not be neglected. Consequently, based on these results, we recommend the systematic measurement of the thickness of the dental tissues adjacent to the enamel layer during sample preparation, in order to proceed to beta dose rate corrections if necessary. Although this work has been especially focused on the case of fossil teeth showing cement, the conclusions stand for any other geometry involving different dental tissues adjacent to the enamel layer dated by ESR.

A series of laboratory experiments was performed to determine the carbon stable isotopic composition of different combustion/pyrolysis (B/P) products. Variation in the δ¹³C values of the products was observed, up to 4‰. The differences in the carbon isotopic compositions of the B/P products were dependent on temperature, time and wood type. Comparison of the results for fresh and fossil oak wood suggested that the δ¹³C differences were the effect of selective decomposition of some wood components during the fossilization process. The temperature dependence of the carbon isotopic composition was linked to variation in the carbon isotopic composition of the main wood components, which each had different levels of thermal stability. Isotopes exchange reactions in between different products can be also considered as possible source of variation of δ¹³C on temperature. Both these hypotheses were supported by molecular simulations of cellulose and lignin B/P. The results confirm that B/P should be treated as a continuous process, where the results depend on the degree of process development. Natural burning processes are dynamic and burning conditions change rapidly and it is necessary to take care when using combustion products as a paleoenvironmental proxy or as an isotopic characteristic for the identification of source material.

South-Eastern coastal plains of India experience some of the major delta formations of the Indian subcontinent majorly affected by fluctuations of the Indian summer monsoon (ISM) and sea level. Past shoreline signatures in the form of palaeo beach ridges in Kaveri delta (Tamil Nadu, India), suggest a wave-dominated delta and thus past sea-level variations affecting directly the sedimentary dynamics of the Kaveri river forcing the river to either aggrade or prograde. Chronostratigraphic and foraminiferal study of the 25 m deep sediment core taken 2.5 km onshore from Tamil Nadu coast, Kaveri delta shows evidence of changing coastline over the last 150 ka. Various units in the core reflect eight major phases of increased sea level (~3.4 ka, ~5.0 ka, 9–6 ka, 60–57 ka, 89–81 ka, ~102 ka,~121 ka and 143–140 ka) partly coinciding with the global climate cycles MIS 1, MIS 3, MIS 5, MIS 6 respectively during the late Quaternary period. During ~121 ka and 9–6 ka, direct signature of marine transgression is observed by the presence of foraminifera in the core location. The study also shows that the sea transgression during ~121 ka was much longer-lasting and higher than during 9–6 ka, even though not revealed in the Quaternary sea level curve given by previous authors. Depositional breaks are observed in the core during periods of lower sea levels as the river responded by incision. Total organic matter of the deposition between 9–6 ka was observed as high as 2.5–6% suggesting oxygen stressed conditions during the period.

The periodical nature of overbank sediment accumulation makes their detailed dating much more difficult than dating sediments in water reservoirs. To improve the commonly used dating with ¹³⁷Cs, we combined this method with Pu isotopes and heavy metals in order to date sediments of the Chechło River (southern Poland), which was polluted by a lead-zinc mine. We analyzed ¹³⁷Cs, Pu isotopes and heavy metal concentrations in three profiles of overbank sediments and in two profiles of subsidence basins in the lower river reach. The results indicate a lower accuracy and higher uncertainty of the overbank than the dating of reservoir sediments. The application of plutonium isotopes provided very important information validating caesium peaks or providing the principal information regarding horizons dated with heavy metals. The obtained dates give the earliest possible age of particular horizons with the actual sediment deposition delayed by several to a dozen years. This investigation shows that using plutonium radioisotopes can be a useful tool for dating, particularly of the youngest overbank sediments where numerous sedimentation gaps cause uncertainties in the application of other methods, e.g. radiocaesium and heavy metals.

This study presents the sedimentological and pollen analysis, and radiocarbon dating of the palaeochannel fill deposits situated on the wide alluvial ridge on which 131 archaeological sites were discovered. The analyzed territory covers the right bank of the San river valley (in the area of the Leszno profile) with an area of 72.5 km². Increase of fine-grain sand sediments, and the presence of redeposited fragments of clayey silts (soil aggregates) correlates well with the increase man’s activity in the 2^nd and the 1^st half of the 1 ^st millennia BC (the decline of the Mierzanowice culture, the Trzciniec culture, the Tarnobrzeg Lusatian culture) as well as in the 1^st millennium AD (the Przeworsk culture and the early Medieval settlement) and with transformation of plant communities recorded in the palynological sequence. The layer of sediments at the depth of 85–69 cm with the highest proportion of the finest clay fraction may indicate the reduction of cultivation or abandonment of arable land (the pre-Roman (La Tène) period).