A luminescence dating study of the sediment stratigraphy of the Lajia Ruins in the upper Yellow River valley,China

Pedo-sedimentological fieldwork were carried out in the Lajia Ruins within the Guanting Basin along the upper Yellow River valley. In the eolian loess-soil sections on the second river terrace in the Lajia Ruins, we find that the land of the Qijia Culture (4.20–3.95 ka BP) are fractured by several sets of earthquake fissures. A conglomerated red clay covers the ground of the Qijia Culture and also fills in the earthquake fissures. The clay was deposited by enormous mudflows in association with catastrophic earthquakes and rainstorms. The aim of this study is to provide a luminescence chronology of the sediment stratigraphy of the Lajia Ruins. Eight samples were taken from an eolian loess-soil section (Xialajia section) in the ruins for optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) dating. The OSL ages are in stratigraphic order and range from (31.94 ± 1.99) ka to (0.76 ± 0.02) ka. Combined OSL and ¹⁴C ages with additional stratigraphic correlations, a chronological framework is established. We conclude that: (1) the second terrace of the upper part of Yellow River formed 35.00 ka ago, which was followed by the accumulation of the eolian loess-soil section; and (2) the eolian loess-soil section is composed of the Malan Loess of the late last glacial (MIS-2) and Holocene loess-soil sequences.     

An OSL‐dated sediment sequence at Idre,west‐central Sweden,indicates ice‐free conditions in MIS 3

In central and northern Sweden, glacial sediments and landforms, formed during Early and Middle Weichselian stadials and their transition into interstadials, are often preserved in spite of having been overridden by later glacial advances. This study presents an OSL‐dated glacial stratigraphy from Idre in west‐central Sweden, expanding the area in which Middle Weichselian ice‐free conditions have been identified. Three sedimentary units were identified, with the lowermost unit consisting of glaciolacustrine sand, deposited in a stagnant water‐body. Nine OSL samples gave ages ranging from 54 to 41 ka, suggesting deposition during a deglacial phase in MIS 3. Normal faults and silt veins, formed after deposition, indicate that the area was ice‐free for a prolonged period, enabling the melting of buried stagnant ice. Above an erosional unconformity is a sediment unit characterized by gravels and sands deposited in a proximal braided‐river environment. OSL ages range from 180 to 41 ka, indicating poor sediment bleaching during deposition. We thus consider them to give a maximum age of the sedimentation, indicating deposition at or after 41 ka. The uppermost unit consists of a stacked succession of subglacial traction tills and glaciotectonite beds, representing the Late Weichselian glaciation of the area, probably during the inception phase with a wet‐based glacier regime. At the last deglaciation of the area there was extensive meltwater erosion, eroding all sedimentary units and forming a landscape with terraces and channels, and erosional remnants of the uppermost diamict as free‐standing hummocks.     

Luminescence dating of Holocene playa sediments of the Egyptian Plateau Western Desert,Egypt

This study is part of a multidisciplinary project dealing with the investigation of geoarchaeological sites on the Egyptian Plateau. With the aim of reconstructing the palaeoecological background, providing age assessment which put the various results in an age frame that is of special interest. Here, results of one particular section have been selected because of a discrepancy in age determination based on different approaches. Radiocarbon ages were inconsistent with the age range provided by the archaeological context in this area. The underestimation observed is inferred to be caused by poor ¹⁴C-sample quality. An attempt to overcome this problem was the determination of the depositional ages of the non-organic sediments by using optically stimulated luminescence (OSL). Equivalent doses of four sediment samples were estimated from OSL measurements carried out on sand-sized quartz grains using the single-aliquot regenerative-dose (SAR) protocol. Dose rates were calculated from neutron activation analysis results. From the OSL ages obtained, we conclude that the sediment sequence exposing an alternation of lacustrine and eolian layers was deposited in a short period of time during the mid-Holocene (mean of OSL ages ∼7.8 ka). Compared to the ¹⁴C ages, the luminescence ages fit better into the archaeological context confirmed by surface dating.     

Early Holocene dune activity linked with final destruction of Glacial Lake Minong, eastern Upper Michigan, USA

The early Holocene final drainage of glacial Lake Minong is documented by 21 OSL ages on quartz sand from parabolic dunes and littoral terraces and one radiocarbon age from a lake sediment core adjacent to mapped paleoshorelines in interior eastern Upper Michigan. We employ a simple model wherein lake-level decline exposes unvegetated littoral sediment to deflation, resulting in dune building. Dunes formed subsequent to lake-level decline prior to stabilization by vegetation and provide minimum ages for lake-level decline. Optical ages range from 10.3 to 7.7 ka; 15 ages on dunes adjacent to the lowest Lake Minong shoreline suggest final water-level decline ∼ 9.1 ka. The clustering of optical ages from vertically separated dunes on both sides of the Nadoway-Gros Cap Barrier around 8.8 ka and a basal radiocarbon date behind the barrier (8120 ± 40 ¹⁴C yr BP [9.1 cal ka BP]) support the hypothesis that the barrier was breached and the final lake-level drop to the Houghton Low occurred coincident with (1) high meltwater flux into the Superior basin and (2) an abrupt, negative shift in oxygen isotope values in Lake Huron.     

Holocene dune formation at Ash Meadows National Wildlife Area,Nevada, USA

Small isolated dune fields in the northern Mojave Desert are important centers of biodiversity and archaeological occupation sites. Currently dunes at Ash Meadows, Nevada, are stabilized by vegetation and are experiencing erosion of their upwind margins, indicating a negative sediment budget. New OSL ages from dunes at Ash Meadows indicate continuous eolian accumulation from 1.5 to 0.8 ka, with further accumulation around 0.2 ka. Prior studies (e.g., Mehringer and Warren, 1976) indicate periods of dune accumulation prior to 3.3 ka; 1.9–1 ka; and after 0.9 ka. These periods of eolian accumulation are largely synchronous with those identified elsewhere in the Mojave Desert. The composition of the Ash Meadows dunes indicates their derivation from regional fluvial sources, most likely during periods when axial washes were active as a result of enhanced winter precipitation.     

Stratigraphy and optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) dating of a Quaternary sequence along the Dong Nai River, southern Vietnam

The pre-Holocene Cenozoic sequence outcrops in the terrestrial part of the eastern margin of the Mekong Basin. However, the stratigraphy of the sequence is still unclear. Its detailed stratigraphy and chronology were therefore studied along the Dong Nai River, southern Vietnam, and the lithofacies and the relations among the formations were investigated from the outcrops. The ages of the deposits were determined by using optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) dating.The Ba Mieu Formation was deposited about 176±52 ka during marine isotope stage (MIS) 7–6. The Thu Duc Formation was deposited about 97±27 ka during MIS 5. Both the Ba Mieu and Thu Duc formations are composed of fluvial and tidally influenced coastal deposits. The newly proposed Nhon Trach Formation was originally an eolian (blanket) deposit, but it has been partly reworked by fluvial processes. The Nhon Trach Formation was deposited about 10.9±4.7 ka, in the last part of the Pleistocene to the beginning of the Holocene. The OSL ages for the Ba Mieu, Thu Duc, and Nhon Trach formations are younger than the ages previously assigned to these formations.     

博斯腾湖湖泊沉积物光释光年代测量*

使用光释光年代学的单片再生法测量了博斯腾湖沉积剖面中碳酸盐泥及粉砂质泥底部的浅湖相灰色粉细砂和风成沙的年龄,对剖面上部碳酸盐层中陆生植物残体进行了AMS ¹⁴ C测年。通过不同测片的等效剂量(D_e)值的分布状况评价了样品的晒褪程度,选择不随灵敏度校正后的自然释光信号变化的相对集中的等效剂量(D_e)值计算了样品的埋藏年龄。通过这些年龄结果的对比,发现石英矿物的OSL年龄和AMS ¹⁴ C年龄在地层上是一致的,表明尽管在浅湖相细砂中存在不完全晒褪,但根据相对较小而集中的D_e值计算得到的年龄结果是可靠的。这些年龄结果和地层资料揭示末次冰消期以来至早全新世,博斯腾湖处于无水干盆地向深水湖泊转化的浅水湖泊状态,现代深水博斯腾湖大约形成于距今8ka前后。     

OSL chronology of sand deposits and climate change of last 18 ka in Gurbantunggut Desert,northwest China

The development of the Gurbantunggut Desert is mainly controlled by the Westerly wind, and at present has little influence from Indian and Southeast Asian monsoons. A combined study using optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) dating, ground‐penetrating radar (GPR) surveys and climatic proxies analysis was carried out in the southern part of the desert. The chronology extends back to 18 ka and is constructed based on 16 OSL ages from boreholes in the linear dune body and the inter‐dune area. The chronology suggests that sand deposition in the last 18 ka experienced two rapid accumulation phases at 11 and 2.5 ka ago which were also evident from the GPR surveys. These periods relate to increased aridity in the region. Five climate phases are identified from the last 18 ka, based on the OSL chronology and climatic proxy analysis with grain size and magnetic susceptibility measurements. The deglacial period (18.3–10.4 ka) is characterized by climate instability and possible glacial melting events. The Holocene Optimum peaked 8.5 ka and terminated 3.6 ka ago, when the regional climate became arid. OSL samples from the dune body cluster around 2.5 ka, which indicates rapid advance/extension of dune bodies at this time. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Quaternary eolian dunes in the Savannah River valley,Jasper County,South Carolina,USA

Sand hills in the Savannah River valley in Jasper County (South Carolina, USA) are interpreted as the remnants of parabolic eolian dunes composed of sand derived from the Savannah River and stabilized by vegetation under prevailing climate conditions. Optically stimulated luminescence ages reveal that most of the dunes were active ca. 40 to 19 ka ago, coincident with the last glacial maximum (LGM) through early deglaciation. Modern surface winds are not sufficient for sustained eolian sand transport. When the dunes were active, winds blew at velocities of at least 4 m/s from west to east, and some vegetation was present. The ratio of annual precipitation to potential evapotranspiration (P:PE) was less than the modern ratio of 1.23 and may have been < 0.30, caused by stronger winds (which would have resulted in greater evaporation) and/or reduced precipitation. The Savannah River dunes are part of a larger assemblage of eolian dunes that were active in the eastern United States during and immediately after the LGM, suggesting that eolian sediment behavior in this region has been controlled by regional forcing mechanisms during the Quaternary.     

The onset of dune formation in the Strzelecki Desert,South Australia

This study is concerned with the Late Quaternary climatic chronology of the Strzelecki Desert dunefields in central Australia. The sand ridges comprise layers of quartz sand, some of which include palaeosol horizons with carbonated rootlets providing excellent opportunity for dating of alternations of dune building and stability by using optically stimulated luminescence (OSL). Deduced from the OSL age of the oldest aeolian layer dated, we conclude that the onset of aridity dates back to at least ∼65 ka. Older phases of aeolian activity though, following a fluvial depositional phase 160 ka ago, cannot be excluded, although no aeolian layers giving evidence for this have been found in the two dunes dated here. Unconsolidated dune sands in the upper part of one section with Late Holocene (4 ka to modern) depositional ages indicate a reactivation of the dunefield in recent times.From the crosscheck of ¹⁴C ages of the carbonated rootlets with OSL results it is concluded that under the given environmental conditions radiocarbon dating of the calcareous rootlets is not able to provide reliable ages for the phase of soil development.     

内蒙古扎鲁特旗地区更新世地层划分

根据孢粉组合特征及光释光测年结果,对分布在内蒙古东南部的第四系更新统做了进一步的划分和研究.研究结果表明,主要分布在内蒙古东南部的中更新统风积物,岩性为黄色亚砂土,含钙质结核,发育柱状节理,区域上称乌尔吉组,含Artemisia-Ephedra-Pinus孢粉组合,光释光测年结果为(40.4±1.9)~(110.0±7.5)ka;下更新统沉积物,岩性为红褐色亚砂土及亚黏土,含钙质结核、砂砾透镜体,区域上称为赤峰黄土,含Artemisia-Polygonum-Betula孢粉组合,光释光测年结果为(200.9±9.6) ~ (220.4±13.2)ka.上述2套地层在内蒙古东南部广泛分布,更新世地层的划分为内蒙古东南部地区的第四系地层划分对比研究提供了基础地质资料.     

Chronologies of sedimentary changes in the south Bohai Sea,China: constraints from luminescence and radiocarbon dating

The alternation of terrestrial and marine deposits is an indicator of past environmental and sea‐level changes. The age of deposition is usually dated by means of radiocarbon. However, radiocarbon dates of molluscan shells from coastal areas may be complicated by various sources of carbon, and problematic for deposits of 40–50 ka or older. Herein, we apply the Optically Stimulated Luminescence (OSL) dating method to date samples from terrestrial and marine/coastal sediments extracted from three cores in the south Bohai Sea, China. Multiple‐ and single‐aliquot regenerative‐dose procedures using OSL signals from fine‐silt (4–11 μm), coarse‐silt (38–63 μm) and fine‐sand (63–90 or 90–125 μm) quartz were employed to determine the equivalent dose (D _e). The results showed that: (i) OSL ages from quartz of different grain sizes and different protocols are consistent with each other; (ii) for Holocene samples, most of the radiocarbon dates agree well with OSL ages; (iii) for pre‐Holocene samples, radiocarbon dates cluster at 40–50 ¹⁴ C ka BP, whereas OSL ages are in stratigraphic order from 11 ka to 176 ka. Because of the self‐consistency of the quartz OSL ages, the stratigraphic agreement in the three cores, and the clustering of the radiocarbon dates, we suggest that the quartz OSL ages are more reliable with respect to dating the samples from the south Bohai Sea. Finally, the four marine strata identified in the south Bohai Sea are likely to have formed during the Holocene, Marine Isotopic Stage (MIS) 3–5, MIS 6 and probably MIS 7, respectively.     

末次盛冰期以来科尔沁沙地古气候变化及其边界重建

利用光释光测年技术,获得了覆盖科尔沁沙地内部及外围的20个风成沙-砂质古土壤沉积序列的年代。在分析前人研究的基础上,结合地层和气候代用指标重建了末次盛冰期以来科尔沁沙地的演化过程。结果表明: 科尔沁沙地的气候变化和沙丘的固定与活化主要经历了4个阶段,即: 26~12ka,气候极端干冷,沙地大面积活化; 12.0~9.5ka,气候趋于暖湿,但仍比较干冷,沙地由大规模沙化向固定成壤过渡; 9.5~2.5ka,气候暖湿,沙地基本固定; 2.5ka以来,气候呈干冷与暖湿交替状态,沙地亦存在多次固定与活化,其中,从1.5ka开始,沙丘活化明显。基于风沙沉积序列的空间分布和光释光测年结果,末次盛冰期科尔沁沙地同时向南和北扩展: 南至翁牛特-库伦旗一线,至少扩张了26km; 北至霍林河一带,至少扩张了30km; 东界受东辽河限制,与现代边界几乎一致。沙地面积较现代扩张了至少2.05×104km2,扩大了37.7%。全新世大暖期,沙丘大面积固定。研究表明,科尔沁沙地气候与环境演变受东亚季风影响,也是全球气候变化的区域响应。     

Timing of Holocene sand accumulation along the coast of central and SE Vietnam

In Vietnam, the coastal sand barriers and dunes located in front of the steep slopes of the high rising Truong Son Mountains are sensitive to climate and environment change and give evidence for Holocene sea-level rise. The outer barrier sands were deposited shortly before or contemporaneous with the local sea-level high stand along the Van Phong Bay postdating the last glacial maximum (LGM). Optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) dating yielded deposition ages ranging from 8.3 ± 0.6 to 6.2 ± 0.3 ka for the stratigraphically oldest exposed barrier sands. Further periods of sand accumulation took place between 2.7 and 2.5 ka and between 0.7 and 0.5 ka. The youngest period of sand mobilisation was dated to 0.2 ± 0.01 ka and is most likely related to reworked sand from mining activities. At the Suoi Tien section in southern central Vietnam, the deposition of the inner barrier sands very likely correlate with an earlier sea-level high stand prior to the last glaciation. OSL age estimates range from 276 ± 17 to 139 ± 15 ka. OSL dating significantly improves our knowledge about the sedimentary dynamics along the coast of Vietnam during the Holocene.     

大同火山烘烤层的光释光年龄

对山西省大同市东水头村和于家寨两个点的第四纪火山玄武岩下伏烘烤层样品,进行了细颗粒石英光释光(OSL)测年研究。初步结果显示,对于大同火山烘烤层样品,应用简单多片OSL法能够获得有价值的火山活动年龄估计。光释光测年结果表明山西大同地区第四纪至少存在两期火山活动,一期发生的最小年龄为17万年,另一期发生在距今8.5万年左右。     

A pre‐LGM sandur at Fiskarheden in NW Dalarna,central Sweden – sedimentology and glaciotectonic deformation

The Fiskarheden quarry, situated in NW Dalarna, central Sweden, reveals thick coarse‐grained sediments of Scott type facies association representing a sandur deposited in an ice‐proximal proglacial environment. Optically Stimulated Luminescence (OSL) dating of the sandur sediments suggests a pre‐Last Glacial Maximum (LGM) age. Most acquired ages are pre‐Saalian (>200 ka) and we regard each of these ages to represent non/poorly bleached sediment except for one small‐aliquot OSL age of 98±6 ka. This age comes from the top surface of an arguably well‐bleached sand bed deposited on the lee‐side of a braid‐bar, putting the sandur build‐up into the Early Weichselian. Large‐scale glaciotectonic structures show an imbricate thrust fan involving both ductile and brittle deformation. The deformation was from the WNW, which largely coincides with the formative trend of the predominating streamlined terrain and Rogen moraine tracts surrounding Fiskarheden. It is suggested that the deformation of the sandur sediments took place when the advancing glacier approached and pushed its own proglacial outwash sediment, during an ice‐marginal oscillation either at the inception of one of the Early Weichselian glaciations in the area, or during a general ice retreat amid a deglacial phase. The Fiskarheden sandur deposits are covered by a subglacial traction till deposited from the NE/NNE. This direction corresponds with younger streamlined terrain flowsets cross‐cutting the older NNW–SSE system and probably represents deglaciation in the area following the LGM. This study will add to the understanding of the formation and deformation of Pleistocene sandur successions and their relationship to past ice‐sheet behaviour.     

天山乌鲁木齐河源末次冰期冰川沉积光释光测年

乌鲁木齐河源地区是中国冰川遗迹保存最丰富、地貌最典型的区域之一,是根据冰川遗迹重建第四纪冰川历史的理想地区。大量的研究工作以及技术测年结果也使其成为试验冰川沉积光释光（optically stimulated luminescence,OSL）测年可行性的理想地点。共采集了6个冰碛及上覆黄土样品用于光释光测年。提取38~63 μm的石英颗粒,运用SAR-SGC法测试等效剂量。各种检验表明测试程序是适用的。通过地貌地层关系、重复样品、已有年代的对比等方法,检验该地冰川沉积OSL测年的可行性。结果表明,OSL年代结果与地貌地层新老关系非常吻合,与已有的其他测年技术的年代结果也具可比性,表明这些样品的OSL信号在沉积之前晒退较好,OSL年代是可信的。冰川观测站侧碛垄的OSL年代为14.8±1.2 ka;9号冰川支谷口附近冰碛的OSL年代为13.5±1.1 ka和17.2±1.3 ka;上望峰冰碛的OSL年代为20.1±1.6 ka。综合OSL年代结果与此前其他测年结果,这几套冰碛垄形成于深海氧同位素MIS 2阶段应该是比较统一的认识。上望峰冰碛上覆黄土的OSL年代（10.5±0.8 ka）也印证了该结论。OSL年代指示上望峰冰碛对应于末次冰期最盛期,冰川观测站和9号冰川支谷谷口冰碛对应于晚冰期。下望峰冰碛的OSL年代为36.3±2.8 ka,对应于MIS 3阶段。下望峰冰碛的形成时代,仍有待更多沉积学以及测年工作进一步确定。     

Evaluating artifact burial by eolian versus bioturbation processes,South Carolina Sandhills,USA

Artifacts are commonly buried by approximately 50 cm of sediment at prehistoric archeological sites (early Archaic through Mississippian) on uplands of the Sandhills of the upper Coastal Plain of the southeastern United States. Bioturbation, eolian sedimentation, and colluviation are the primary processes that can explain artifact burial because of the upland position of the sites in an erosional landscape setting. Colluvial sedimentation is discounted at most of the sites because they occur on interstream divides and upper hillslope positions. Thus, the focus is on eolian sedimentation versus bioturbation as burial agents. Six sites in the midst of the Sandhills region along the corridor of South Carolina Highway 151 in Chesterfield County provide the data. The Sandhills consist primarily of Cretaceous and Tertiary marine, fluvial, and eolian sediments that are highly dissected and overlie crystalline rocks in the deep subsurface. Two of the sites are on high fluvial terrace remnants that predate 12 ka and serve as controls where bioturbation is the only reasonable burial process. Hillslope positions of the sites are on erosional elements of the landscape (crests, shoulder slopes, and upper backslopes) where sediment transfer operates (colluvial and overland flow), but where deposition is minimal. The sites occur on very sandy soils having a texture of loamy sand to sand. In some instances, a fine textured cover sand, which is about 1.5 m thick, overlies a clayey subsoil or Bt horizon. This cover sand has been interpreted by some as an eolian sand sheet that buries a second parent material and paleosol, but standard particle size and heavy mineral data indicate that it is simply a thick E horizon over a Bt horizon. Standard particle size fractionation at whole phi intervals, and particle size analysis of the heavy mineral fraction, indicate that eolian sedimentation is unlikely at five of the six sites. Heavy minerals were analyzed with respect to the sedimentological principle of hydraulic equivalence, which provides clear separation of eolian versus water-laid sediment. Results of particle size analysis suggest that the cover sands are water-laid (probably fluvial) at five of the six sites, which favors the bioturbation process of artifact burial. Heavy mineral analysis corroborates the standard particle size data, indicating that only one site, 38CT16, possibly is composed of eolian sediment. Soil profile development suggests that the age of the sediment at site 38CT16 probably is older than 12 ka and was in place prior to human occupation. Therefore, possible eolian sedimentation at that site is not relevant to artifact burial, which also suggests bioturbation is the primary process of artifact burial. Additional evidence favoring bioturbation as a vigorous artifact burial process in the Sandhills comes from the two sites on high elevation sandy fluvial terraces (38CT34, 38CT17) where artifacts are also buried. At these terraced sites bioturbation is the only possible burial process. Overall results suggest that bioturbation best explains the occurrence of buried artifacts and that eolian sedimentation processes are not readily apparent, and are not required, in explaining artifact burial. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Optically Stimulated Luminescence (OSL) dating of sand‐filled wedge structures and their fine‐grained host sediment from Jonzac,SW France

Two sand wedge structures and their host sediments, from Jonzac in SW France, were successfully dated using Optically Stimulated Luminescence (OSL) measurements on both small aliquots and single grains of quartz from the 180–212 μm size fraction. One of the sand wedges clearly contains primary infilling. However, grain‐size analysis and field observations do not clearly indicate whether the other feature represents a primary sand wedge or a composite sand wedge with primary and secondary infilling. OSL results and the geological setting justify using the Central Age Model (CAM) for the calculation of age estimates. Grain‐size analysis and detailed investigations of OSL results revealed the contamination of one sand wedge sample with host sediment. However, age calculation using the Finite Mixture Model (FMM) provided what is considered to be a reliable age estimate for the contaminated sample. The age estimates for all samples correspond to Marine Isotope Stage (MIS) 3. While fine‐grained sediments were deposited in the middle of MIS 3 (c. 43–55 ka), the sand wedges unexpectedly correspond to the end of this period (c. 33 ka) or the onset of MIS 2 (c. 27 ka). The sand wedges were probably formed during intense but short cold periods, possibly correlated with a Heinrich event (H2 and/or H3). The results help us to assess how effective luminescence dating is on sand wedges and the limitations involved in correlating sand wedge ages with Heinrich events, and contribute to the debate on the timing of cryogenic formation processes and the permafrost distribution in SW France.     

Late Pleistocene fluvial dynamics in the Hochrhein Valley and in the Upper Rhine Graben: chronological frame

During the Pleistocene, the Rhine glacier system acted as a major south–north erosion and transport medium from the Swiss Alps into the Upper Rhine Graben, which has been the main sediment sink forming low angle debris fans. Only some aggradation resulted in the formation of terraces. Optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) and radiocarbon dating have been applied to set up a more reliable chronological frame of Late Pleistocene and Holocene fluvial activity in the western Hochrhein Valley and in the southern part of the Upper Rhine Graben. The stratigraphically oldest deposits exposed, a braided-river facies, yielded OSL age estimates ranging from 59.6 ± 6.2 to 33.1 ± 3.0 ka. The data set does not enable to distinguish between a linear age increase triggered by a continuous autocyclical aggradation or two (or more) age clusters, for example around 35 ka and around 55 ka, triggered by climate change, including stadial and interstadial periods (sensu Dansgaard–Oeschger cycles). The braided river facies is discontinuously (hiatus) covered by coarse-grained gravel-rich sediments deposited most likely during a single event or short-time period of major melt water discharge postdating the Last Glacial Maximum. OSL age estimates of fluvial and aeolian sediments from the above coarse-grained sediment layer are between 16.4 ± 0.8 and 10.6 ± 0.5 ka, and make a correlation with the Late Glacial period very likely. The youngest fluvial aggradation period correlates to the beginning of the Little Ice Age, as confirmed by OSL and radiocarbon ages.