Preliminary optical and radiocarbon age determinations for Upper Pleistocene alluvial sediments in the southern Anti Atlas Mountains, Morocco

This paper presents the first results of a 14C and optical luminescence dating project on extensive alluvial silt formations in the southern Anti Atlas Mountains in southern Morocco. The silts comprise three members: basal silts, an inter-silt fluvial gravel member and a top silt member and are incised by the rivers. Top silt dates are: 11 340–11 940, 12 670–13 130 cal. yr BP, and 10.6±0.7 ka (OSL). OSL dates for the inter-silt gravels are 29.6±2.0 ka and for the bottom silts is 45.0±3.7 ka. The sediments correlate with Soltanian stratigraphies known elsewhere in Morocco. To cite this article: M. Thorp et al., C. R. Geoscience 334 (2002) 903–908.