Thermoluminescence dating of a 50,000-year-old human occupation site in northern Australia

Nature ◽  
1990 ◽  
Vol 345 (6271) ◽  
pp. 153-156 ◽  
Author(s):  
Richard G. Roberts ◽  
Rhys Jones ◽  
M. A. Smith
Keyword(s):  
Northern Australia ◽  
Human Occupation ◽  
Thermoluminescence Dating

Early human occupation of northern Australia: archaeology and thermoluminescence dating of Jinmium rock-shelter, Northern Territory

Antiquity ◽  
1996 ◽  
Vol 70 (270) ◽  
pp. 751-773 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. L. K. Fullagar ◽  
D. M. Price ◽  
L. M. Head
Keyword(s):  
Homo Sapiens ◽  
Northern Territory ◽  
African Origin ◽  
Northern Australia ◽  
Human Occupation ◽  
New Science ◽  
Thermoluminescence Dating ◽  
Northwestern Australia ◽  
Human Colonization ◽  
Early Human

The nature and date of the human colonization of Australia remains a key issue in prehistory at the world scale, for a sufficiently early presence there indicates either Homo sapiens sapiens arriving precociously in a place remote from a supposed African origin, or a greater competence in sea-crossing than has been expected of archaic humans. Stratigraphic integrity, the new science of luminescent dating and the recognition of worked stone and of rock-engraving are immediate issues in this report from far northwestern Australia.

Thermoluminescence dating of dune podzols at Cape Arnhem, northern Australia

1995 ◽  
Vol 129 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 63-75 ◽  
Author(s):  
Brian G. Lees ◽  
John Stanner ◽  
David M. Price ◽  
Lu Yanchou
Keyword(s):  
Northern Australia ◽  
Thermoluminescence Dating

scholarly journals Human occupation of northern Australia by 65,000 years ago

Nature ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 547 (7663) ◽  
pp. 306-310 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chris Clarkson ◽  
Zenobia Jacobs ◽  
Ben Marwick ◽  
Richard Fullagar ◽  
Lynley Wallis ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Northern Australia ◽  
Human Occupation

Comparative Uranium-Thorium and Thermoluminescence Dating of Weathered Quaternary Alluvium in the Tropics of Northern Australia

1991 ◽  
Vol 35 (3-Part1) ◽  
pp. 347-366 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gerald C. Nanson ◽  
David M. Price ◽  
Stephen A. Short ◽  
Robert W. Young ◽  
Brian G. Jones
Keyword(s):  
Climatic Conditions ◽  
Northern Australia ◽  
Medium Sand ◽  
Secondary Minerals ◽  
Dry Tropics ◽  
Thermoluminescence Dating ◽  
Fan Delta ◽  
Sand Body ◽  
The Tropics ◽  
Age Determinations

AbstractThermoluminescence (TL) age determinations of alluvial sediments in the tropics are evaluated by comparison with U/Th age determinations of pedogenic accumulations in the alluvium of the lower Gilbert River, a large fan delta in the wet-dry tropics of northern Queensland, Australia. This study extends U/Th dating by applying it not only to calcretes, but also to Fe/Mn oxyhydroxide/oxide accumulations. While a direct correlation cannot be made between U/Th dates from secondary minerals and TL dates from the host sediments, both sets of data show broad consistency. In addition to providing a minima for acceptable TL ages, U/Th dates are useful for determining the chronology of pedogenesis/diagenesis. They show that calcretes and ferricretes have formed under similar climatic conditions in the wet-dry tropics of northern Australia during the late pleistocene. Beneath about 5–12 m the Gilbert fan delta consists of an extensive sand body older than 85,000 yr and probably about 120,000 yr in age, representative of a period of major fluvial activity not repeated since this time. Above are muds and fine sandy muds that extend uninterrupted to the present surface except in the downstream fan where they are bisected by a thin unit of medium sand that TL dates at 40,000–50,000 yr B.P. A system of sandy distributary channels over the fan surface represents an early Holocene fluvial phase probably more active than at present.

Reconnaissance Thermoluminescence Dating of Northern Australian Coastal Dune Systems

1990 ◽  
Vol 34 (2) ◽  
pp. 169-185 ◽  
Author(s):  
Brian G. Lees ◽  
Lu Yanchou ◽  
John Head
Keyword(s):  
Radiocarbon Dating ◽  
Late Holocene ◽  
Fine Fraction ◽  
Coastal Dunes ◽  
Coarse Fraction ◽  
Northern Australia ◽  
Sediment Dating ◽  
Thermoluminescence Dating ◽  
Lithostratigraphic Units ◽  
Cape York

AbstractQuaternary lithostratigraphic units in coastal dunes have been dated at three locations in northern Australia, Cobourg Peninsula, Shelburne Bay, and Cape Flattery, by both radiocarbon dating of shell and organic carbon and thermoluminescence (TL) sediment dating. Both coarse fraction and fine fraction TL methods were used. Seventeen TL dates were measured. None of the TL dates contradict the ages given by radiocarbon. Where multiple TL dates were taken from a unit, they overlap within 2 standard deviation giving added confidence in the results. A phase of dune emplacement during the late Holocene (ca. 2700-1800 yr B.P.) was identified in two of the dune-fields, an early Holocene phase of dune emplacement (ca. 8600-7500 yr B.P.) in two of the dune-fields, and a late Pleistocene episode (ca. 24,000–17,000 yr B.P.) in both the Cape York dunefields. Three older units gave dates of about 29,000, 81,000, and 171,000 yr B.P., but these must be treated with caution.

scholarly journals GEOFÍSICA E SEDIMENTOLOGIA APLICADAS À AVALIAÇÃO DO GRAU DE ASSOREAMENTO DE TRECHO DO RIO DAS VELHAS EM RIO ACIMA, MINAS GERAIS

2013 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maria Giovana Parizzi ◽  
Paulo Roberto Antunes Aranha ◽  
Ricardo Diniz da Costa ◽  
Jadir Alves da Silva Filho ◽  
Moara Melo Tupinambás ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Urban Growth ◽  
Open Channel ◽  
Minas Gerais ◽  
River Channel ◽  
Human Occupation ◽  
Closed Channel ◽  
Rock Fragments ◽  
Thermoluminescence Dating ◽  
Geophysical Surveys

O trabalho investiga o assoreamento de um trecho do Rio das Velhas a fim de subsidiar estudo de renaturalização fluvial. A bacia do Rio das Velhas é, em grande parte de sua área, ocupada por minerações, áreas urbanas e rurais, loteamentos e condomínios. O crescimento local e a explotação dos recursos naturais têm sido considerados a causa do assoreamento dos rios. Entretanto, faltam estudos detalhados para comprovar o ritmo de assoreamento e avaliar a real contribuição de cada atividade para o desencadeamento do processo. Prospecções geofísicas utilizando o GPR foram utilizadas para a execução de batimetria do rio e reconstrução do perfil do canal, indicando a espessura da camada de sedimentos, seu contato com o substrato rochoso e a forma do canal do rio. O estudo também inclui análises sedimentológicas, datações de termoluminescência, caracterização geológica e geomorfológica da bacia e investigação do uso e ocupação do solo para verificação das principais fontes de sedimentos. Os sedimentos são formados principalmente por grãos de quartzo, mica e hematita e fragmentos de rochas. A morfologia do vale fluvial é variada, ora com canal fechado, ora com canal aberto. Com base nos resultados foi possível reproduzir o grau de assoreamento do rio das Velhas. O método geofísico aplicado, o GPR, mostrou ser um método eficiente para execução de batimetria. As datações mostraram que boa parte dos sedimentos encontrados na calha do rio tem origem natural porque foram depositados antes da ocupação da região.Palavras-chave: geofísica, assoreamento, Rio das Velhas ABSTRACT: GEOPHYSICS AND SEDIMENTOLOGY APPLIED TO EVALUATION OF SILTING LEVEL OF VELHAS RIVER AT RIO ACIMA, MINAS GERAIS, BRAZIL. This work investigates the silting of part of Velhas river channel. The urban growth and exploitation of natural resources have been considered the cause of the silting of rivers. However, detailed studies are lacking to prove the rate of sedimentation and evaluate the real contribution of each activity to trigger the process. Geophysical surveys using GPR were used to perform bathymetry of the river and reconstruction of the channel profile, indicating the thickness of the sediments, their contact with the bedrock and the shape of the river channel. The study also includes sedimentological analysis, thermoluminescence dating, geological and geomorphological characterization of the basin and land use research to verify the main sources of sediment. The sediments are mainly formed by grains of quartz, mica and hematite and rock fragments. The morphology of the river valley is varied, sometimes with a closed channel, sometimes with open channel. Based on the results it was possible to reproduce the degree of siltation of the Velhas river. The GPR method proved to be an efficient method to perform bathymetry. The dating showed that most of the sediments found in the river channel are natural because they were deposited before the human occupation of the region.Keywords: geophysics, sedimentation, Velhas River

scholarly journals How do we distinguish termite stone lines from artefact horizons? A challenge for geoarchaeology in tropical Australia

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mike Smith ◽  
Ingrid Ward ◽  
Ian Moffat
Keyword(s):  
Case Studies ◽  
Published Data ◽  
Northern Australia ◽  
Human Occupation ◽  
Tropical Australia

Can we distinguish stone lines created by termite bioturbation from genuine artefact horizons? This is a challenge for field archaeology and geoarchaeology in northern Australia, where termites are abundant. We review published data to (a) present a model of the evolution of stone lines and (b) develop guidelines for recognizing these bioturbation products in archaeological contexts. In case studies, we examine Madjedbebe and Nauwalabila, two sites in northern Australia. The early occupation levels at these sites are pivotal to ideas about initial human occupation of the Australian landmass but there are claims these are unrecognized stone lines. Our assessment is that neither Madjedbebe nor Nauwalabila contain termite stone lines, although both sites may have complex geomorphic and taphonomic histories.

scholarly journals Luminescence dating studies of Yeşilova Hoyuk

2012 ◽  
Vol 39 (4) ◽  
pp. 268-275 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elçin Ekdal ◽  
Arzu Ege ◽  
Turgay Karali ◽  
Zafer Derin
Keyword(s):  
Dose Rate ◽  
Luminescence Dating ◽  
Coarse Grain ◽  
Neolithic Period ◽  
Human Occupation ◽  
Annual Dose ◽  
Thermoluminescence Dating ◽  
Dose Method ◽  
Three Samples

Abstract Ceramic findings collected from Yeşilova Hoyuk located in Izmir were dated using the thermoluminescence dating technique. The area is of significant archaeological importance since it is the first prehistoric settlement in Izmir. Recent archeological observations suggest that human occupation of the region took place about 8500 years ago comparing to previously determined dates of 5000 years. Three samples collected from the same archaeological layer (Neolithic period) in Yeşilova Hoyuk were dated using the thermoluminescence method. Archaeological doses (AD) were obtained by single aliquot regenerative dose method (SAR) for thermoluminescence (TL) using coarse grain quartz minerals extracted from samples. Thick and thin Al2O3:C thermoluminescence dosimeters (TLD) were used to determine the annual dose rate. The archaeological doses were found to vary from 25.91±0.78 to 26.82±0.68 Gy, and the annual doses were found to be between 3.34±0.24 and 3.47±0.24 mGy/a. The ages obtained for the samples were determined to be 6000±830 BC, 5740±670 BC and 5460±740 years for samples ND1, ND2 and ND3, respectively, which supports the prediction of archeologist that the sampling layer dates from the Neolithic period.

Human occupation at Jinmium, northern Australia: 116,000 years ago or much less?

Antiquity ◽  
1998 ◽  
Vol 72 (275) ◽  
pp. 173-178 ◽  
Author(s):  
N. A. Spooner
Keyword(s):  
Early Stage ◽  
Northern Territory ◽  
Northern Australia ◽  
Human Occupation ◽  
Tl Dating ◽  
Rock Shelter ◽  
Human Dispersal ◽  
The Pacific

The rock-shelter of Jinmium in the Northern Territory of Australia hit the headlines a year-and-a-half ago when TL dates suggested human occupation might date from 116,000 years ago. Such dates were much earlier than any previously obtained for Australia, and thus suggested the continent was colonized at a very early stage in human dispersal around the Pacific. However, some TL dating is notoriously difficult to interpret, and here Nigel Spooner has re-assessed one of the later dates in the Jinmium sequence. His interpretation calls into doubt some of the earlier claims.

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