THERMOLUMINESCENCE DATING OF DUNE PODZOLS AT CAPE-ARNHEM, NORTHERN AUSTRALIA

Quaternary lithostratigraphic units in coastal dunes have been dated a t two locations in the dune fields near Cape Arnhem, northern Australi a, using coarse fraction thermoluminescence (TL) dating. Fifteen TL da tes were measured, Five main chronostratigraphic units were identified which include a late Pleistocene unit (ca. 19,000 yr), an early Holoc ene unit (ca. 9000-6500 yr), a mid Holocene unit (ca. 4000 yr) and two late Holocene units (ca. 2100 yr and ca. 1000 yr). These, respectivel y, have been associated with the deflation of exposed shelf sediments during the last glacial, the disturbance of this material by rising se a level, and climatic variations in the late Holocene.