Olieboomspoort OSL dating

In October 2018, we conducted fieldwork at the site of Olieboomspoort Shelter, in the Waterberg (Limpopo Province, South Africa). The project focuses on the Middle Stone Age (MSA) layers from the site and one of the key aims is to provide a better chronological framework for these layers. The only existing chronological indication is an age greater than 36 ka BP provided by the radiocarbon technique in the 1950’s (therefore, beyond the range of the method). A test-trench was initially dug in 1998 as part of previous research at the site (van der Ryst, 2007). In October, we have re-opened that trench and we have collected several samples for Optically Stimulated Luminescence (OSL) dating from the southern profile. Here, we are applying for an export permit to send those OSL samples to one of the world leading research laboratories in luminescence dating (Nordic Laboratory for Luminescence Dating in Roskilde, Denmark), in order for them to be dated.