OSL samples from Rose Cottage Cave 2024

The aims of the current investigation of Rose Cottage Cave are to collect OSL samples to improve the chronological resolution for the time range between 30 and 50 ka BP, i.e. the terminal Middle Stone Age and the post-Howiesons Poort. The OSL dating will be performed by Chantal Tribolo (CNRS, Archéosciences Bordeaux, University of Bordeaux).
In the first season in 2023, OSL and micromorphological sampling was undertaken in parallel to investigate the formation of strata associated with the MIS 5 MSA and the succeeding Howiesons Poort (HP) occupations. The OSL samples (Rose 1 to 3) concerned the layers LEN, KUA and KUB. This research is currently in progress.
In 2024, OSL sampling was performed in parallel with the micromorphological block sampling. In addition to the 3 samples from 2023, we collected further 6 OSL samples (Rose 4 to 9), each in parallel with a micromorphological block. Rose 4 corresponds to layer CLINT of the Wadley/Harper excavations, Rose 5 to layer JEN, Rose 6 to layer THO, Rose 7 to layer MAD, Rose 8 to LYN, and Rose 9 to layer Daniel orange. OSL samples, Rose 4-8, were collected from the West Profile of the Harper Trench, while OSL sample, Rose 9, was taken from the South Section of the Wadley excavation.
The six OSL samples (Rose 4 to 9) are ~500g in weight.