Palaeoenvironmental Transitions Between 22 ka and 8 ka in Monsoonally Influenced Namibia

Abstract

The paper presents a preliminary reconstruction of the development of different palaeoenvironments between the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM; c. 22-18 ka) and the Holocene Altithermal (HA; c. 8 ka-4 ka) in Namibia. The synopsis is based on 36 optical datations of dune sands and fine-grained, silty deposits (OSL and TL). Most of the data were published by different research groups during the last decade. The synoptic view of all available optical age determinations is necessary because palaeoclimatic interpretations for southwestern Africa are not possible using results based only on local studies and on partly unreliable datations (e. g. 14 C ages of calcretes).