Luminescence chronology of aeolianites from the section at Givat Olga - Coastal Plain of Israel

The Eastern Mediterranean Coastal Plain of Israel is composed mainly of loa m, sand and gravel of Pleistocene to Holocene age, indicating an alternatio n of marine, coastal and continental environments. Owing to the complexity of the numerous exposures of aeolianites ("kurkar") and soils ("hamra") in the elongated ridges along the coastal plain, it is difficult to set up a r eliable stratigraphy. A systematic luminescence dating study was carried ou t on loose sand, kurkar and hamra deposits in the coastal plain between Net anya and Haifa. Sixteen samples were taken and investigated from the sectio n at Givat Olga. The chronological results show excellent agreement between the infrared optically stimulated luminescence (IRSL) and thermoluminescen ce (TL) techniques, indicating that the former sand dunes were well-bleache d prior to deposition. The IRSL and TL age estimates range from about 75-3 ka for the aeolianites indicating that this kurkar ridge formed during an o lder period of the last glaciation, likely before 50 ka. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.