New data on the paleolithic geochronology in southern Levant

Sections of some Paleolithic sites were studied. Samples from the Yiron, Ta bun, Habonim, and Bizat Ruhama sections were collected for radiothermolumin escent (RTL) dating. The geological position of the sites and its influence on the section structure are discussed. Basalt from the Yiron site is date d back to 2.4-2.5 Ma using the K-Ar method. The age of rocks overlying the basalt is also determined. Red clays located 25 m below the base of the bas altic unit yield the RTL date of 2800 +/- 700 ka. RTL dates for Beds C and E in the Tahun cave are concordant with age values obtained by the thermolu minescent (TL) method. This suggests that RTL dates first obtained for Beds F (480 +/- 120 ka and G (610 +/- 150 and 630 +/- 160 ka) are close to the real ones. In the vicinity of the Habonim Kibutz, the exposed section shows that the second kurkar overlies sandstones of the third kurkar and a lenti l of sediments separating sandstones of these kurkars. The boundary member between the third and second kurkars was formed approximately 160-30 ka ago . A particular attention is paid to the Bizat Ruhama site corresponding in age to the latest interval of the Matuyama Chron.