Near‐surface paleosols in coastal sands at the outlet of Hadera stream (Israel) in the light of archeology and luminescence chronology

Abstract

AbstractCatenary changes, archeology, micromorphology, and magnetic mineralogy of paleosols in coastal sands, Israel, were investigated under chronostratigraphic control by available luminescence datings from adjacent sites. At the outlet of Hadera stream, eolianites (Hebrew: “kurkar”) underlie paleosols with Epipaleolithic (approx. 17–20 ky) artifacts at the top and occasional Mousterian (>40 ky) artifacts in the subsoil. The optically stimulated–luminescence/infrared stimulated–luminescence (OSL/IRSL) dates (>50–12 ky) from adjacent sites roughly agree with the archeological findings. The paleosols show a magnetically depleted Vertisol superimposed on a magnetically enhanced cumulative Chromic Luvisol (WRB) (USDA: Rhodoxeralf, Israeli class.: Hamra). The latter contain approx. 0.25 mm thick, isotropic clay infillings distinctly separated from the soil matrix. These infillings are tentatively interpreted as the result of strong environmental disturbances, such as surface desiccation, subsequent waterlogging, and enhanced dust deposition, presumably at the time of the Last Glacial Maximum. In addition to the massive accumulation of eolian dust, diverse pedogeomorphic changes lagging in time from the onset of climatic deterioration may have taken place in coastal settings. Recurrent desiccation cracks may have exposed subsurface materials repeatedly to sunlight, consequently resetting the luminescence signal. The eolianite sequences are thus distinct from loess/paleosol sequences from temperate climates and have to be treated more rigorously at a site‐specific level.