Chronostratigraphic context for artefact-bearing palaeosols in late pleistocene tamala limestone, Rottnest Island, Western Australia

Abstract

This paper presents absolute dates for artefact-bearing palaeosols intercalated with Tamala Limestone aeolianite successions on Rottnest Island (Wadjemup), Western Australia. The absolute chronology for the sub-aerial part of the island’s constituent Tamala Limestone is based on 20 optically stimulated luminescence (OSL), two thermoluminescence (TL) age estimates, one U-series assay and three radiocarbon dates. The oldest of these estimates is an OSL age of 140 ± 14 ka at Fairbridge Bluff for the aeoliniate beneath the Rottnest Limestone member – a marine member of the Tamala Limestone succession. The palaeosols range in age from 49 to 10 ka. These age estimates provide, for the first time, ..