Abstract
Marine and aeolian Quaternary sediments from Casablanca, Morocco were dated using the optically stimulated luminescence (OSL)
signal of quartz grains. These sediments form part of an extensive succession spanning the Pleistocene, and contain a rich faunal and
archaeological record, including an Acheulian lithic assemblage from before the Brunhes–Matayama boundary, and a Homo erectus jaw
from younger cave deposits. Sediment samples from the sites of Reddad Ben Ali, Oulad J’mel, Sidi Abderhamane and Thomas Quarries
have been dated, in order to assess the upper limits of OSL. The revision of previously measured mammalian tooth enamel electron spin
resonance (ESR) dates from the Grotte des Rhinoce´ ros, Oulad Hamida Quarry 1, incorporating updated environmental dose rate
measurements and attenuation calculations, also provide chronological constraint for the archaeological material preserved at Thomas
Quarries. Several OSL age estimates extend back to around 500,000 years, with a single sample providing an OSL age close to 1Ma in
magnetically reversed sediments. These luminescence dates are some of the oldest determined, and their reliability is assessed using both
internal criteria based on stratigraphic consistency, and external lithostratigraphic, morphostratigraphic and independent chronological
constraints. For most samples, good internal agreement is observed using single aliquot regenerative-dose OSL measurements, while
multiple aliquot additive-dose measurements generally have poorer resolution and consistency. Novel slow-component and componentresolved
OSL approaches applied to four samples provide significantly enhanced dating precision, and an examination of the degree of
signal zeroing at deposition. A comparison of the OSL age estimates with the updated ESR dates and one U-series date demonstrate that
this method has great potential for providing reliable age estimates for sediments of this antiquity. We consider the cause of some slight
age inversion observed at Thomas Quarries, and provide recommendations for further luminescence dating within this succession.
Translated title of the contribution | New age estimates for the Palaeolithic assemblages and Pleistocene succession of Casablanca, Morocco |
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Original language | English |
Pages (from-to) | 2569 - 2585 |
Number of pages | 17 |
Journal | Quaternary Science Reviews |
Volume | 25 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - Oct 2006 |