Thermoluminescence dates for the Middle Palaeolithic site of Chez-Pinaud Jonzac (France)

Thermoluminescence dating of heated flint artefacts from the Middle Palaeolithic sequence of Chez-Pinaud Jonzac (France) places an assemblage of Quina type Mousterian into MIS 4, while the overlying assemblage of Denticulate Mousterian which is followed by two layers with Mousterian of Acheulean Tradition are all assigned to MIS 3. TL dating is used to verify the mixed nature of deposits from which diagnostic Middle as well as Upper Palaeolithic tools were recovered. The TL ages are significantly different for samples from this layer and broadly agree with the archaeological attributions. While the study is generally limited by the low number of heated samples available, a correlation with a generalized chronostratigraphic sequence is possible by including proxy data from the faunal remains associated with the lithic assemblages in question. The Quina Mousterian in southwestern France, therefore, can be placed by chronometric dating methods in MIS 4 to MIS 3.     

International Environmental Regimes: Legalisation,Flexibility and Effectiveness

In one of the first quantitative designs, we explore the impact of both legalisation and flexibility on regime effectiveness, using data on international environmental institutions. One of the main implications is that ‘precision’ is an important determinant of regime performance. If the rule and norm system is well defined, well understood and clear, then a regime tends to be more effective in addressing an environmental problem. We do not find evidence, however, that ‘hard law’ is more effective than ‘soft law’ or that delegation mechanisms may be relevant. Second, flexibility in the regime structure increases regime performance – regular instead of subsidiary bodies enhance flexibility and thus have a positive effect on a regime's environmental problem management. Flexibility in states' agenda setting power, membership and decision making do not seem to have a crucial influence, though.     

Optically stimulated luminescence dating of young fluvial deposits of the Middle Elbe River Flood Plains using different age models

In the last few decades optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) dating has become an important tool in geochronological studies. The great advantage of the method, i.e. dating the depositional age of sediments directly, can be impaired by incomplete bleaching of grains. This can result in a scattered distribution of equivalent doses (D_E), leading to incorrect estimation of the depositional age. Thoroughly tested protocols as well as good data analysis with adequate statistical methods are important to overcome this problem. In this study, samples from young fluvial sand and flood plain deposits from the Elbe River in northern Germany were investigated to compare its depositional ages from different age models with well-known historical dates. Coarse grain quartz (100–200 μm and 150–250 μm) and polymineral fine grains (4–11 μm) were dated using the single aliquot regenerative (SAR) dose protocol. The paleodose (D_P) was calculated from the DE data set using different approaches. Results were compared with the development of the Elbe River, which is well-documented by historical records and maps covering the last 1,000 years. Depending on the statistical approach it can be demonstrated that depositional ages significantly differ from the most likely depositional age. For the investigated coarse grain quartz samples all ages calculated from the MAM-3_UL, including their uncertainties, are within the historical documented age. Results of the polymineral fine grain samples are overestimating the historically documented depositional age, indicating undetectable incomplete bleaching. This study shows the importance of using an adequate statistical approach to calculate reliable OSL ages from fluvial sediments.     

OSL and TL characteristics of fine grain quartz from Mongolian prehistoric pottery used for dating

The OSL, post-IR OSL and pulsed post-IR OSL applied to polymineral grains and calculated by fitting to the data the contributions from fast, medium and slow components revealed that the polymineral samples under study are dominated by the medium component. An increase in D _e ’s with increasing integration intervals was observed, which is considered as an indication of increasing medium and decayed fast component; and the equivalent doses obtained using different components or minerals reflect also the shape of the dose distributions. The identified fast component in polymineral sample has photoionization cross section of 1.2±0.02 × 10^?17 cm². The present study shows the usefulness of the application of different luminescence techniques combined with fitting procedures as a check which should be adopted in dating protocols. Based on luminescence ages obtained on poly-mineral grains from prehistoric pottery samples from the Boroo settlement, Mongolia, which are in agreement with independent age control by ¹⁴C on charcoal material, it is argued that the manufacturing of Xiongnu — pottery at this site lasted until ca. 130±75 AD.     

Recent discoveries of Aurignacian and Epigravettian sites in Albania

Albania is a possible stepping-stone for the dispersal of Homo sapiens into Europe, since Palaeolithic traces (namely from the so-called Uluzzian culture) have been discovered in neighboring Greece and Italy. After two years of searching for evidence of modern humans in Albania we here report on excavated test trenches representing two time slices: an Aurignacian open-air site from southern Albania and two Epigravettian cave sites in central and northern Albania—areas heretofore archaeologically unknown. The new Albanian data fill a gap in the eastern Adriatic archaeological record for Marine Isotope Stages 3 and 2. Adding current knowledge of Late Pleistocene landscape evolution, a “contextual area model” can be constructed describing the habitats of these human populations.     

Lexsyg — A new system for luminescence research

The newly developed lexsyg system by Freiberg Instruments is a versatile luminescence reader, suited for research on the luminescence of materials, fundamental research in luminescence dating, but also for routine mass measurements in retrospective dosimetry as well as in dating application. The 80 sample storage wheel is disconnected from the measurement chamber and therefore crosstalk of optical stimulation is absent and cross-irradiation is negligible from the α- and β-sources, which are providing very uniform irradiations, with the latter especially designed for radiofluores-cence (RF) measurement. Optical excitation sources and filter wheels to vary detection wavelengths can be programmed to change at almost any time within measurement sequences, including the auto-mated change of an optional wheel holding up to four different detectors. Thermoluminescence meas-urements and preheating are possible with a versatile heater, which can be programmed for linear or non-linear heating or cooling, as well as holding a temperature constant. Rates as well as durations can be varied, together with individual ramping, staging and cooling for an almost unlimited number of steps. Violet- and IR-lasers, green and blue LED-arrays can be operated in continuous (CW) or modulated mode (linear/non-linear), and optionally for pulsed as well as time resolved luminescence detection. Six arrays of power LEDs allow the simulation of different bleaching regimes (‘solar simu-lator’), while luminescence detection can be achieved by a variety of photomultiplier tubes and by CCD cameras for spatially resolved measurements and luminescence spectra.     

The Navajo People and Uranium Mining

The story of the Navajo Nation and uranium mining is, at itsheart, a tale of environmental justice. From the late 1940suntil the 1960s, uranium mining by private corporations whosesole purchaser was the federal government, employed Navajosto work the mines in the Four Corners area. When the uraniumboom ended, the miners and their families were left with hugepiles of uranium tailings, compromised health, and a scarredlandscape. The Navajo People and Uranium Mining fills a crucialchapter of this story in a short, yet powerful work that illuminatesthe ongoing social, psychological, and environmental problemsrelated